Dong Won Lee1,2, Seok Hwa Ko1, Chang Myeon Song1, Yong Bae Ji1, Jeong Kyu Kim2, Kyung Tae3. 1. Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, 04763, Republic of Korea. 2. Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medicine, Catholic University of Daegu, Daegu, Republic of Korea. 3. Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, 04763, Republic of Korea. kytae@hanyang.ac.kr.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The most important advantage of remote-access robotic and endoscopic thyroidectomies is believed to be the excellent postoperative cosmesis. The purpose of this study was to compare directly the postoperative cosmetic outcomes of robotic/endoscopic thyroidectomy via gasless transaxillary and postauricular facelift approaches with those of conventional thyroidectomy. METHODS: We prospectively studied 100 patients who underwent robotic/endoscopic thyroidectomy using a gasless unilateral axillary (GUA) approach (50 patients) or a postauricular facelift approach (50 patients), and 50 who underwent conventional transcervical thyroidectomy. Postoperative cosmetic satisfaction scores and scar consciousness scores were evaluated at 3 months and 1 year after surgery using questionnaires developed by us. Vancouver scar scales were evaluated at the same time. The cosmetic satisfaction score was defined as the sum of the two cosmetic satisfaction questions with a rating scale of 1-5 each. The scar consciousness score was defined as the sum of the four scar consciousness questions with a rating scale of 0-3 each. RESULTS: The cosmetic satisfaction and scar consciousness scores were significantly lower (corresponding to greater satisfaction) in the transaxillary and postauricular facelift groups than the conventional group at 3 months and 1 year postoperatively. They did not differ between the transaxillary and postauricular facelift groups. However, the Vancouver scar scale score of the conventional group was significantly lower than those of the transaxillary and postauricular facelift groups (P < 0.001 in both). CONCLUSION: Robotic/endoscopic thyroidectomy via transaxillary or postauricular facelift approaches results in better cosmesis than the conventional approach. However, scar healing itself is worse in the transaxillary and facelift approaches than the conventional approach.
BACKGROUND: The most important advantage of remote-access robotic and endoscopic thyroidectomies is believed to be the excellent postoperative cosmesis. The purpose of this study was to compare directly the postoperative cosmetic outcomes of robotic/endoscopic thyroidectomy via gasless transaxillary and postauricular facelift approaches with those of conventional thyroidectomy. METHODS: We prospectively studied 100 patients who underwent robotic/endoscopic thyroidectomy using a gasless unilateral axillary (GUA) approach (50 patients) or a postauricular facelift approach (50 patients), and 50 who underwent conventional transcervical thyroidectomy. Postoperative cosmetic satisfaction scores and scar consciousness scores were evaluated at 3 months and 1 year after surgery using questionnaires developed by us. Vancouver scar scales were evaluated at the same time. The cosmetic satisfaction score was defined as the sum of the two cosmetic satisfaction questions with a rating scale of 1-5 each. The scar consciousness score was defined as the sum of the four scar consciousness questions with a rating scale of 0-3 each. RESULTS: The cosmetic satisfaction and scar consciousness scores were significantly lower (corresponding to greater satisfaction) in the transaxillary and postauricular facelift groups than the conventional group at 3 months and 1 year postoperatively. They did not differ between the transaxillary and postauricular facelift groups. However, the Vancouver scar scale score of the conventional group was significantly lower than those of the transaxillary and postauricular facelift groups (P < 0.001 in both). CONCLUSION: Robotic/endoscopic thyroidectomy via transaxillary or postauricular facelift approaches results in better cosmesis than the conventional approach. However, scar healing itself is worse in the transaxillary and facelift approaches than the conventional approach.