Patient reported outcome measures in microtia surgery.

BACKGROUND

Autologous ear reconstruction for microtia is a complex, multi-stage procedure. The success of the procedure is dependant on how the patient perceives the outcomes of surgery and their overall experience. Patient reported measures are therefore crucial to developing the technique and improving the patient journey.

AIM

The aim of this study was to use two reproducible patient reported outcome tools as an objective measure of microtia reconstructive surgery.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study was performed at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH), London and the Royal Hospital for Sick Children (RHSC), Edinburgh. Two questionnaires were posted to patients with congenital microtia who underwent an autologous ear reconstructive procedure. The first questionnaire - designed by the authors at Great Ormond Street Hospital - measured the patient's perspectives of: ear appearance, the individual aesthetic units and the donor site. The second questionnaire - created by the authors at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children - collected demographic information; and asked general questions regarding ear surgery including psychosocial considerations and satisfaction scores of individual aesthetic units.

RESULTS

The majority of patients were very satisfied with their reconstructed ear (83% at GOSH and 85% at RHSC). High patient satisfaction scores were reported for the lobe of ear and size of the ear. Low satisfaction scores were reported for the antitragus and projection of ear.

CONCLUSION

The measures used in this study provide an objective assessment of patient reported experience and outcome that in the future can be used as a means of targeted quality improvement and to benchmark care nationally.