Assessment of quality of life in patients treated for orbital fractures

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the quality of life (QOL), before and after surgery, of patients who underwent open reduction and internal fixation for orbital fractures. Study design: A prospective study. Participants and setting: The self-report outcome measures of 50 patients treated at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Jiamusi University from January 2016 to June 2019 were prospectively collected. Main measures: The quality of life was assessed using four patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs): the 15D questionnaire, Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and 36-item Short Form Survey (SF-36). Both descriptive and comparative data analyses were calculated. Results: Zygomaticomaxillary complex fractures were the most encountered (40.3%). The total OHIP-14 scores before and after treatment were 1.72 and 1.68, respectively. Vision, breathing, sleeping, eating, usual activities, discomfort and symptoms, and vitality showed minimal changes in the 15D questionnaire. The HADS scores were ranged from 0 to 7, indicating no anxiety or depression. The comparison of SF-36 scores after 3 months and after ≥6 months of treatment revealed no significant difference. Conclusions: Patients’ QOL was minimally impacted by orbital fractures and their treatments. The severity of the negative impact can be minimized if appropriate management strategies are taken.