{"title":"Evaluation of Scar Cosmesis and Quality of Life After Thyroid Surgery: A Retrospective Study.","authors":"Surjeet Dwivedi, Sanjay Kumar, Vishal Saxena, Angshuman Dutta, Yateendra Dinker, Sabita Dwivedi, Sumantra Shekher Majumdar, Amar Varshaney, Mandeep Sharma","doi":"10.1007/s12070-025-05368-w","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Thyroid surgery is a common procedure for managing benign and malignant conditions. While the primary focus is on treating the underlying pathology, visible neck scars can significantly impact patients' self-esteem and quality of life (QoL). A comprehensive assessment of scar cosmesis alongside functional outcomes is essential. Despite the availability of tools such as the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS) and Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS), studies combining subjective and objective scar assessments with thyroid-specific and general QoL measures remain limited.</p><p><strong>Methodology: </strong>This retrospective study evaluated scar cosmesis and QoL in 100 thyroidectomy patients treated between January 2021 and December 2023. Subjective satisfaction was measured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and objective assessments were performed using VSS and POSAS. QoL was assessed using validated instruments, ThyPRO and SF-36, to capture thyroid-specific and general QoL domains. Statistical analyses included t-tests, Pearson correlation, and multivariate regression.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The mean VAS score was 7.8, with 85% of patients reporting satisfaction with their scars. Objective evaluations yielded mean VSS and POSAS scores of 5.2 and 6.8, respectively. Younger patients (VAS = 8.2 for ≤ 50 years) and females (VAS = 8.0) reported higher satisfaction with scar outcomes. QoL improved significantly, with physical functioning increasing from 65.3 to 76.8 (<i>p</i> < 0.01) and emotional well-being from 61.2 to 70.1 (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Significant correlations were observed between scar cosmesis scores and QoL domains, such as physical functioning (r = 0.42). Sensory changes, including numbness around the scar area, were reported in 12% of patients.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Integrating subjective and objective measures, including ThyPRO and SF-36, provides a complete evaluation of scar cosmesis and QoL outcomes after thyroidectomy. Key predictors of higher satisfaction included younger age, female gender, and superior scar quality. These findings highlight the importance of addressing both aesthetic and functional outcomes in thyroid surgery to enhance patient satisfaction and QoL.</p><p><strong>Supplementary information: </strong>The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12070-025-05368-w.</p>","PeriodicalId":49190,"journal":{"name":"Indian Journal of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery","volume":"77 3","pages":"1505-1512"},"PeriodicalIF":0.6000,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11909309/pdf/","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Indian Journal of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12070-025-05368-w","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2025/2/6 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q4","JCRName":"SURGERY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Introduction: Thyroid surgery is a common procedure for managing benign and malignant conditions. While the primary focus is on treating the underlying pathology, visible neck scars can significantly impact patients' self-esteem and quality of life (QoL). A comprehensive assessment of scar cosmesis alongside functional outcomes is essential. Despite the availability of tools such as the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS) and Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS), studies combining subjective and objective scar assessments with thyroid-specific and general QoL measures remain limited.
Methodology: This retrospective study evaluated scar cosmesis and QoL in 100 thyroidectomy patients treated between January 2021 and December 2023. Subjective satisfaction was measured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and objective assessments were performed using VSS and POSAS. QoL was assessed using validated instruments, ThyPRO and SF-36, to capture thyroid-specific and general QoL domains. Statistical analyses included t-tests, Pearson correlation, and multivariate regression.
Results: The mean VAS score was 7.8, with 85% of patients reporting satisfaction with their scars. Objective evaluations yielded mean VSS and POSAS scores of 5.2 and 6.8, respectively. Younger patients (VAS = 8.2 for ≤ 50 years) and females (VAS = 8.0) reported higher satisfaction with scar outcomes. QoL improved significantly, with physical functioning increasing from 65.3 to 76.8 (p < 0.01) and emotional well-being from 61.2 to 70.1 (p < 0.05). Significant correlations were observed between scar cosmesis scores and QoL domains, such as physical functioning (r = 0.42). Sensory changes, including numbness around the scar area, were reported in 12% of patients.
Conclusion: Integrating subjective and objective measures, including ThyPRO and SF-36, provides a complete evaluation of scar cosmesis and QoL outcomes after thyroidectomy. Key predictors of higher satisfaction included younger age, female gender, and superior scar quality. These findings highlight the importance of addressing both aesthetic and functional outcomes in thyroid surgery to enhance patient satisfaction and QoL.
Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12070-025-05368-w.
期刊介绍：
Indian Journal of Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery was founded as Indian Journal of Otolaryngology in 1949 as a scientific Journal published by the Association of Otolaryngologists of India and was later rechristened as IJOHNS to incorporate the changes and progress.
IJOHNS, undoubtedly one of the oldest Journals in India, is the official publication of the Association of Otolaryngologists of India and is about to publish it is 67th Volume in 2015. The Journal published quarterly accepts articles in general Oto-Rhino-Laryngology and various subspecialities such as Otology, Rhinology, Laryngology and Phonosurgery, Neurotology, Head and Neck Surgery etc.
The Journal acts as a window to showcase and project the clinical and research work done by Otolaryngologists community in India and around the world. It is a continued source of useful clinical information with peer review by eminent Otolaryngologists of repute in their respective fields. The Journal accepts articles pertaining to clinical reports, Clinical studies, Research articles in basic and applied Otolaryngology, short Communications, Clinical records reporting unusual presentations or lesions and new surgical techniques. The journal acts as a catalyst and mirrors the Indian Otolaryngologist’s active interests and pursuits. The Journal also invites articles from senior and experienced authors on interesting topics in Otolaryngology and allied sciences from all over the world.
The print version is distributed free to about 4000 members of Association of Otolaryngologists of India and the e-Journal shortly going to make its appearance on the Springer Board can be accessed by all the members.
Association of Otolaryngologists of India and M/s Springer India group have come together to co-publish IJOHNS from January 2007 and this bondage is going to provide an impetus to the Journal in terms of international presence and global exposure.
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