Health-related quality of life in patients surgically treated for orbital blow-out fracture: a prospective study.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate patients' health-related quality of life (HRQoL) before and after surgical treatment of orbital blow-out fracture. METHODS: This prospective study comprises of all adult patients undergoing a surgical reconstruction of an orbital blow-out fracture in 2006-2010. Their HRQoL was evaluated for 6 months postoperatively with the aid of the standardized 15D instrument and was compared with that of an age- and gender-standardized sample of the general Finnish population. A complementary questionnaire for more detailed information was also administered. RESULTS: Twenty-six patients completed the study. Mean 15D score among the patients preoperatively (0.898) was statistically significantly and clinically importantly worse than the score of the control population (0.936). Six months postoperatively, the mean 15D score was 0.920, with no significant difference compared with the control population and the significant differences on the different dimensions had disappeared. The most common complaint at 6 months postoperatively was diplopia in daily life (19%). Disturbances in facial sensation (27%) and defects in facial appearance (15%) were the most unpleasant subjective outcomes. CONCLUSION: The HRQoL is significantly decreased after orbital blow-out fracture compared with the general population but will recover completely in 6 months. Thus, the negative impact of orbital blow-out fracture on HRQoL is only transient. Disturbances in facial sensation, defects in facial appearance, and diplopia are the most common subjective complaints after the injury and its surgical treatment. However, these do not appear to affect the overall quality of life in the long term.

Health-related quality of life of patients with zygomatic fracture

Background: The objective was to evaluate health-related quality of life (HRQoL) before and after surgical treatment of zygomatic complex fracture and assess patients’ perceptions of the aesthetic and functional outcomes of surgery. Material and Methods: A prospective study of 79 adult patients before and after surgery for zygomatic complex fracture was conducted. HRQoL was measured using the generic 15-dimensional (15D) instrument, and patient satisfaction was assessed by an additional questionnaire. Results: The mean preoperative 15D score for patients was lower than for general population that was matched for age and gender (p=0.011). The mean 15D score was lowest on the first postoperative day (p < 0.001) when patients were worse off for 6 of the 15 dimensions of the HRQoL instrument and better off for three dimensions. However, patients achieved, and even exceeded, the mean 15D score of the general population during the first month following surgery. Infraorbital sensory loss at the end of the six-month follow-up appeared to be the single most important factor that plagued the patients. Conclusions: HRQoL is significantly reduced after trauma but improves a few weeks after surgery. Infraorbital nerve sensory loss is a notable long-term factor that affects patients after zygomatic complex fracture (AU)

No disponible

Health-related quality of life after surgical treatment of mandibular fracture.

OBJECTIVES: We evaluated health-related quality of life (HRQoL) before and after surgical treatment of mandibular fracture and assessed patients' perceptions of the esthetic and functional outcomes of surgery. STUDY DESIGN: We established a prospective study of adult patients who were to undergo open reduction and rigid fixation of mandibular fracture. Of the patients, 49 met the inclusion criteria, and of these, 45 agreed to participate. HRQoL was measured with the generic 15-dimensional (15-D) instrument, and patients' satisfaction was assessed with an additional questionnaire. RESULTS: The average preoperative 15-D score among patients (0.891) was significantly lower than that in the general population (0.964) (P < .01). Patients were worse off on 9 of the 15 dimensions of HRQoL; however, at 3 months following surgery, all dimensions had improved to the level observed in the general population. CONCLUSIONS: HRQoL is significantly reduced after mandibular trauma but improves in a few months after surgery. Sensory disturbance is the most significant disadvantage of the surgery.