Impact of orthognathic surgery on quality of life.
OBJECTIVE
To determine changes in quality of life (QOL) following orthognathic surgery in patients with dentofacial deformity, using generic health, generic oral health, and condition-specific QOL approaches.


METHODS
Thirty-six patients were evaluated at baseline presurgical (T(0)), 6 weeks postoperatively (T(1)), and 6 months postoperatively (T(2)). Generic health-related QOL was assessed using the 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), generic oral health-related QOL was assessed by the 14-item Short Form Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14), and condition-specific QOL was assessed by the 22-item Orthognathic Quality of Life Questionnaire (OQLQ).


RESULTS
There was a significant reduction (deterioration) in SF-36 summary physical (P < .01) and mental health scores (P < .001) at 6 weeks after surgery but no significant change in overall OHIP-14 or OQLQ scores. At 6 months after surgery, SF-36 summary scores returned to baseline levels and significant reduction (improvements) in OHIP-14 (P < .001) and OQLQ mean scores (P < .001) were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Significant changes in QOL occurred following orthognathic surgery. A marked but transient deterioration in many aspects related to general well being was noted in the early postoperative period and significant improvement was documented by 6 months. A comprehensive assessment of QOL using generic health, generic oral health, and condition-specific approaches proved useful in determining such changes.
Lee
Shermin
S
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Hong Kong Faculty of Dentistry, Prince Philip Dental Hospital, Hong Kong.
McGrath
Colman
C
Samman
Nabil
N
D000328:Adult; D004522:Educational Status; D005146:Facial Asymmetry / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000601:surgery; D019647:Oral Surgical Procedures / Q000523:psychology*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011788:Quality of Life; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome