title: A paired comparison analysis of third-party rater thyroidectomy scar preference.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the length and position of a thyroidectomy scar that is cosmetically most appealing to naïve raters.
  
  
  METHODS
  Images of thyroidectomy scars were reproduced on male and female necks using digital imaging software. Surgical variables studied were scar position and length. Fifteen raters were presented with 56 scar pairings and asked to identify which was preferred cosmetically. Twenty duplicate pairings were included to assess rater reliability. Analysis of variance was used to determine preference.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Raters preferred low, short scars, followed by high, short scars, with long scars in either position being less desirable (p < 0.05). Twelve of 15 raters had acceptable intra-rater and inter-rater reliability.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Naïve raters preferred low, short scars over the alternatives. High, short scars were the next most favourably rated. If other factors influencing incision choice are considered equal, surgeons should consider these preferences in scar position and length when planning their thyroidectomy approach.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery,Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry,Western University,London,Ontario,Canada.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rajakumar
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery,Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry,Western University,London,Ontario,Canada.
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Doyle
authors.affiliation: Division of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery,University of Toronto,Ontario,Canada.
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Brandt
authors.affiliation: Division of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery,Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry,Western University,London,Ontario,Canada.
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery,Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry,Western University,London,Ontario,Canada.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nichols
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology,Queen's University School of Medicine,Kingston,Ontario,Canada.
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Franklin
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery,Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry,Western University,London,Ontario,Canada.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery,Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry,Western University,London,Ontario,Canada.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fung
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D004954:Esthetics / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000523:psychology; D057240:Patient Preference / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Aesthetics; Cicatrix; Endocrine Surgical Procedures; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures; Otolaryngology; Thyroid Gland; Thyroidectomy