Affiliation:
1. Department of Otolaryngology—Head & Neck Surgery University of California San Diego San Diego California USA
2. School of Medicine University of California San Diego San Diego California USA
3. Moores Cancer Center University of California San Diego San Diego California USA
4. Department of Surgery Division of Otolaryngology‐Head and Neck Surgery, University of New Mexico Albuquerque NM USA
5. University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center Albuquerque NM USA
Abstract
AbstractObjectiveFacial palsy affects patients of all backgrounds, yet no existing studies describe differences in its treatment patterns between demographic groups.MethodsWe used the National Surgical Quality Improvement Project database to investigate whether race and sex disparities exist in facial reanimation surgery. Patients were identified using CPT codes corresponding to facial‐nerve procedures.ResultsSeven hundred sixty‐one patients met criteria; 681 self‐identified as White (89.5%), 51 as Black (6.7%), 43 as Hispanic (5.6%), 23 as Asian (3.0%), and 5 patients as other (0.61%). White patients were more than twice as likely to undergo brow ptosis repair than Non‐White patients (OR 2.49, 95% CI 1.16–6.15, p = .03). After controlling for malignancy, men had longer operative times than women (480.2 vs. 413.9 min, p = .04) and higher likelihood of free tissue transfer (OR 4.1, 95% CI 1.9–9.8), fascial free tissue transfer (OR 10.7, 95% CI 2.1–195), and ectropion repair (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.2–2.8).ConclusionMost patients undergoing facial reanimation surgery in the United States are White. Men have longer operative times and a higher likelihood of undergoing free fascial grafts and cutaneous and fascial free tissue transfer than women regardless of malignancy status.Level of Evidence2c.