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

: Kaukola L, Snall J, Lindqvist C, Roine R, Sintonen H, Tornwall J, Thoren H

Publisher: ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC

: 2015

: Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology and Oral Radiology

: ORAL SURGERY ORAL MEDICINE ORAL PATHOLOGY ORAL RADIOLOGY

: OR SURG OR MED OR PA

: 119

: 4

: 402

: 407

: 6

: 2212-4403

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oooo.2014.11.018

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.