Prospective study of scar cosmesis in thyroid/parathyroid surgery
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Prospective study of scar cosmesis in patients undergoing thyroid/parathyroid surgery
IRAS ID
152123
Contact name
Priya Sethukumar
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 3 months, 1 days
Research summary
Patients undergoing thyroid surgery are left with a scar to the neck which can affect their quality of life. Even minimally invasive approaches attempting to negate this scar e.g. robotic thyroidectomy, result in an axillary wound which some patients report to be a cause of significant morbidity.
Surgical outcomes have a significant bearing on patients’ quality of life and functioning. Work has been undertaken elucidating factors which contribute to poor scarring and outcome in terms of scar cosmesis. However, we postulate that the greatest individual factor is a patient’s own perception of their wound.
We will use validated assessment tools (Manchester Scar Scale, Dysmorphic Concern Questionnaire, Body Dysmorphic Disorder Questionnaire, European Quality of Life Questionnaire) to assess both patients’ and clinicians’ perceptions of scarring and body image and compare these. Patients will be seen and questioned post operatively and divided into groups: early, intermediate and late, depending on number of days post op. They will also be consented for medical illustrations to perform photography with a standardised by a protocol which has been set up.
Control groups will be in the form of lay people assessing the scar photography using the same questionnaires.
We will ultimately be able to ascertain which patients will have poor outcomes, regardless of the actual aesthetic outcome of the scar. In cases with benign pathology, if it can be helped, we would suggest maximising conservative non-surgical approaches with such patients. Neither a conventional approach nor a labour-intensive, time-intensive and costly method such as minimally invasive surgery would be efficacious in such patients.REC name
London - Camden & Kings Cross Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/LO/1626
Date of REC Opinion
4 Nov 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion