Evaluation of appearance-related distress after canaloplasty using the DAS-24 questionnaire

Abstract

Background: The main purpose of the canaloplasty is hearing improvement. But there are needs for evaluation of the esthetic or psychosocial effects of canaloplasty.

Aims/Objectives: This study investigated the esthetic influence of canaloplasty, with regard to the creation of a patent external auditory canal.

Materials and methods: We enrolled 34 patients diagnosed with microtia and congenital aural atresia (CAA). All patients underwent canaloplasty and Derriford Appearance Scale (DAS) questionnaire was used to evaluate patients’ distress due to their appearance. A general self-consciousness score (GSC) of DAS was evaluated and compared preoperatively, and postoperatively with the audiological outcomes.

Results: Preoperatively, the GSC scores were higher in individuals 12 years or older compared to those of patients less than 12 years of age. One year postoperatively, the GSC score significantly decreased from 27.02(±6.0) to 21.76(±6.0). In detailed item analysis, the postoperative GSC score significantly improved in 8 items. The preoperative mean air-bone gap (ABG) of 49.88 dB decreased to a mean of 28.09 dB at 6 months and to 29.02 dB at 1 year postoperatively.

Conclusion and significance: Canaloplasty is a procedure that not only improves hearing in patients with CAA, but also effectively reduces patients’ distress due to their appearance.

Chinese abstract

背景：耳道成形术的主要目的是改善听力。但是, 需要评估耳道成形术的外观或心理影响。

目的：本研究调查了在制作专利性外耳道方面, 耳道成形术对外观的影响。

材料和方法：我们招募了34例被诊断为小耳症和先天性听觉闭锁（CAA）的患者。所有患者均接受了耳道成形术, 并使用Derriford外观量表（DAS）问卷评估了患者因外貌而造成的困扰。对外观量表的一般自我意识评分（GSC）进行了评估, 并在术前和术后与听力结果进行了比较。

结果：术前, 年龄在12岁或12岁以上的人的GSC评分高于年龄在12岁以下的患者。术后一年, GSC评分从27.02（±6.0）大幅度降低至21.76（±6.0）。在详细的标项分析中, 有8个标项的术后GSC评分显著提高。术前平均气隙（ABG）为49.88 dB。术后6个月减少至28.09 dB, 术后1年减少至29.02 dB。

结论与意义：耳道成形术不仅可以改善CAA患者的听力, 而且可以有效减少因其外观而引起的痛苦。

Keywords:

• Microtia
• canaloplasty
• congenital aural atresia
• Derriford Appearance Scale

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.