Health-related quality of life outcome of children with prominent ears after otoplasty

Abstract

To investigate health-related quality of life changes that occurred in children with prominent ears applied pre- and postoperatively. A prospective study was performed in 67 consecutive children who underwent otoplasty procedures between April 2008 and July 2010 and followed up for more than 2 years. Evaluations and interviews performed in the pre-and postoperative periods included the patients' history, clinical and routine laboratory examinations. Glasgow children's benefit inventory was the basis of the used inquiry for detecting the changes in health-related quality of life after otoplasty. For the children's cohort, the mean total Glasgow children's benefit inventory score was 23.9 (p < 0.001), indicating a benefit from the operation. All Glasgow children's benefit inventory subscores (emotion, physical health, learning, and vitality) were raised (mean 30.84, 14.98, 18.89, and 23.96, respectively). The health-related quality of life was raised in 63 of 67 children (94.03%). Negative Glasgow children's benefit inventory scores or subscores were not found in a single case. Otoplasty can significantly increase patients' health-related quality of life and leads to a high rate of patient satisfaction in children with prominent ears.