Health-related quality of life outcome of adult patients after otoplasty

Prominent ears are relatively frequent. Decreased self-esteem, increased anxiety, behavioral problems and social avoidance may result from disfigurement. In modern medicine it is becoming increasingly important to measure the benefit of surgical intervention by its impact on the patient's Quality of Life (QOL). Our study was performed in a retrospective manner at our institution including 40 adult patients with prominent ears. The Glasgow Benefit Inventory (GBI), a reproducible, valid and responsive questionnaire, was the basis of the used inquiry for detecting the changes in HRQOL after otoplasty. We showed an improvement in GBI subscores after intervention. There was no difference in GBI subscores between men and women. The follow-up time as well as critical life event and chronic concomitant disease have no influence on the GBI results. Otoplasty has a positive impact on the HRQOL of adult patients with prominent ears. The importance of this benefit is not only of individual nature. In times of healthcare economization, an amelioration of QOL followed by increased productivity at work of the individual is an important argument to justify health care expenditures. We believe that otoplasty is an appropriate therapy for selected adult patients burdened by prominent ears.