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Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

(250) Impact of Overall Quality-of-Life on Facial Reanimation Surgery Outcomes

Monday, October 2, 2023
2:45 PM – 3:45 PM East Coast USA Time

    Presenting Author(s)

  • MF

    Max Y. Feng, MD

    Resident Physician
    Loma Linda University Health
    Loma Linda, California, United States

    • Co-Author(s)

  • Roy Wang Qu, MD

    Resident Physician
    Loma Linda University Health
    Loma Linda, California, United States

  • JB

    Julianne Byun, BS

    Loma Linda University School of Medicine, USA

    • Senior Author(s)

  • JF

    Jennifer C. Fuller, MD

    Assistant professor
    Loma Linda University
    Loma Linda , CA, United States

Disclosure(s):
Max Y. Feng, MD: No relevant relationships to disclose.
Roy Wang Qu, MD: No relevant relationships to disclose.


Introduction: Facial paralysis can have a significant impact on functional and psychological outcomes. Static and dynamic techniques can address facial symmetry at rest and when making facial movements. While there is a known improvement in disease-specific quality of life outcomes, less is known regarding the impact of overall quality of life domains on facial paralysis outcomes after facial reanimation surgery.

Methods: A prospectively-collected cohort of patients with facial paralysis that had undergone facial reanimation surgery from 2020-2022 at a single institution was retrospectively analyzed. Patients were administered the Facial Clinimetric Evaluation Scale (FaCE) and Euro-Qol 5D global quality of life questionnaire (EQ5D) pre-operatively, short term post-operatively (1-6 months), and long term post-operatively (6-12 months). Statistical analysis was performed using the independent-samples Mann-Whitney U test.

Results: 18 patients, with 13 (72.2%) flaccid and 5 (27.2%) non-flaccid paralysis, having undergone either static alone (8), dynamic alone (1), or static and dynamic combined (9) facial reanimation surgery were included for analysis. 10 (55.6%) male and 8 (44.4%) female patients with an average age of 52.9 years (StD 18.1) were included. Patients who reported anxiety/depression had a lower FaCE social function score at long term follow-up (p=0.033). Patients who reported difficulty performing daily activities had a lower FaCE social function score at short-term (p=0.026) and long-term (p=0.033) follow-up. Patients who reported difficulty with self-care had a lower overall FaCE score at short term follow up (p=0.026). Patients who reported worse EQ5D scores at long term follow up did not have worse baseline FaCE scores compared to those who did not. There was no relationship between EQ5D domains of mobility or pain/discomfort and FaCE outcomes at any timeframe.

Conclusions: Patients who reported anxiety/depression, difficulty performing daily activities, and difficulty with self-care had worse self-reported facial paralysis and social function scores after facial reanimation surgery.