Mental health of patients with post-traumatic midfacial defects and deformities

Objective: to assess the main aspects of the mental component of quality of life in patients with post-traumatic midfacial defects and deformities. Material and methods. The study included 78 patients over 18 years of age with post-traumatic midfacial defects and deformities. All patients underwent an analysis of the injury mechanism and the nature of the injuries. The SF-36 questionnaire was used to assess the mental component of quality of life. Results. Patients with midfacial PTD showed a significant decrease in the SF-36 mental component scores. The overall mental health score was 40.8±5.6 points, which was associated with anxiety about appearance and the consequences of the injury. Role functioning (33.4±7.1 points) and social activity (33.1±4.8 points) were the most significantly reduced, indicating significant limitations in daily and social life. Diplopia had the strongest negative impact on the mental component of patients’ health (r=-0.73), which contributed to a decrease in life activity (r=-0.76). Deformities of the zygomatic and infraorbital region also showed a strong negative association (r=-0.71) with mental health indicators, directly reducing social and life activity in more than half of the patients. Conclusion. Assessment of the mental component using the SF-36 scale revealed that patients with PTD and midface deformities had low mental health, role, and social functioning against a background of anxiety about appearance, which led to limitations in daily and social activities.