Normative Values of Rhinology Questionnaires in Young Adults: A Tool to Identify Candidates for Rhinoplasty

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Plastic Surgery
• Psychometrics

Background:

• Normative values for rhinoplasty outcome measures are crucial for evaluating surgical success.
• Young adults are the primary demographic seeking rhinoplasty, necessitating age-specific reference data.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine reference norms for the Rhinoplasty Outcome Evaluation (ROE) and Functional Rhinoplasty Outcome Inventory 17 (FROI-17) in young adults (18-25 years).
• To establish benchmarks for assessing rhinoplasty candidates and identifying potential psychological concerns.

Main Methods:

• Calculated normative values for ROE and FROI-17 in 570 young adults (mean age 19.3 years).
• Participants underwent ENT examination; those with positive findings completed ROE and FROI-17 questionnaires.

Main Results:

• Mean ROE score: 13.4 ± 2.3; Mean FROI-17 score: 9.1 ± 13.3.
• Statistically significant differences in nasal symptom scores between men and women.
• Significant negative correlation between ROE and FROI-17 scores.

Conclusions:

• Established normative values for ROE and FROI-17 in healthy young adults provide a baseline for rhinoplasty assessment.
• Deviations from these norms may indicate underlying issues, including body dysmorphic disorder (BDD).