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. 2014:2014:393571.
doi: 10.1155/2014/393571. Epub 2014 Mar 31.

Psychosocial and quality of life outcomes of prosthetic auricular rehabilitation with CAD/CAM technology

Chi Keung Tam  1 , Colman Patrick McGrath  2 , Samuel Mun Yin Ho  3 , Edmond Ho Nang Pow  4 , Henry Wai Kuen Luk  5 , Lim Kwong Cheung  1
Affiliations

Psychosocial and quality of life outcomes of prosthetic auricular rehabilitation with CAD/CAM technology

Chi Keung Tam et al. Int J Dent. 2014.

Abstract

Introduction. The psychosocial and quality of life (QoL) of patients with deformed or missing ears are frequently compromised. The aim of this study is to develop innovative techniques using CAD/CAM technology in prosthetic auricular rehabilitation and provide improvement in the treatment outcomes, including their psychology and QoL. Methods. This is a preliminary clinical cohort study. Six patients requesting for auricular reconstruction were recruited and rehabilitated with implant-supported prosthesis using CAD/CAM technology. Different treatment outcomes including QoL and psychological changes were assessed at different time points. Results. A significant reduction in severity of depressive symptoms (P = 0.038) and an improving trend of satisfaction with life were found at 1 year postoperatively when compared with the preoperative findings. The domain scores in ''Body image", ''Family/friends/strangers", and ''Mood" were also significantly higher (P < 0.05) at 1 year postoperatively than 1 week postoperatively. However, only 50% of the patients wear their auricular prosthesis regularly. Conclusion. This preliminary study has confirmed that implant-supported auricular prosthesis could induce improvement in the psychology and QoL with statistically significant differences in the domains of the body image, social interaction, and mood. Our present findings can inform research design and hypotheses generation of future studies.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Case illustration of a patient with microtia. (a) Patient's right ear showing microtia. (b) Patient's left ear showing normal shaped ear. (c) Two implants were placed into the mastoid bone. (d) Wound closure with healing abutment exposed. (e) Patient's right ear showing the auricular prosthesis.
Figure 2
Figure 2
(a) Prosthesis position checked with Soft Touch (BrainLAB) digitized probe. (b) Screen shot of checking of the prosthesis position using the Soft Touch digitized probe to compare with preplanned position intraoperatively.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Persistent adverse periabutment skin response around the gold alloy abutments.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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