Abstract
BACKGROUND
This study aimed to investigate patient perceptions of and satisfaction with surgical outcomes of microtia reconstruction using autologous cartilage. It also analyzes associations between patient background characteristics and their evaluation.
METHODS
Lobule-type microtia patients who had received first-stage surgery were interviewed using a questionnaire, which included assessment of nine auricle substructures, superior and inferior parts and overall impression. Answers were recorded on a five-point Likert-style scale. Satisfaction rate and average scores were used to compare satisfaction with different substructures. Chi-square tests and logistic regression were used to analyze the impact of background characteristics such as gender, age, side and body mass index (BMI) on satisfaction, measured as the total scores for different parts.
RESULTS
The highest level of satisfaction was seen for the helix and the lowest for the tragus. The average score for the helix was significantly higher than for the concha (p < 0.05), tragus (p < 0.05), anti-tragus (p < 0.05), incisura (p < 0.05) and lobe (p < 0.05). The overall satisfaction was significantly correlated with work on the inferior part (ρ = 0.63, p < 0.05). Satisfaction from children under 12 years old was significantly higher than from children above 12 years old for superior structures and overall evaluation (p < 0.05). Left-sided microtia patients showed significantly higher satisfaction for inferior structures and overall evaluation than right-sided patients (p < 0.05). Overweight and obese patients were less satisfied with the tragus-incisura-anti-tragus complex compared with the rest (p < 0.05).
CONCLUSION
Microtia patients were most satisfied with the helix and least satisfied with the tragus. Overall patient satisfaction was more dependent on inferior structures; the characteristics of younger age (<12 years), proper BMI (under overweight or obese) and left-sided microtia were linked with higher ratings.
LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV
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