Table 2 Comparison of quality-of-life parameters between the group undergoing trans-oral endoscopic thyroidectomy and the group undergoing conventional open thyroidectomy. This table is based on the specific thyroid surgery-related QOL questionnaire
Specific thyroid surgery-related QOL parameter and grade | Postoperative 2 weeks | Postoperative 6 weeks | Postoperative 12 weeks | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Trans-oral endoscopic thyroidectomy | Open thyroidectomy | P value | Trans-oral endoscopic thyroidectomy | Open thyroidectomy | P value | Trans-oral endoscopic thyroidectomy | Open thyroidectomy | P value | |
Numbness N (%): 0 | 10 (31.3) | 25 (65.8) | 0.053 | 15 (46.9) | 26 (68.4) | 0.398 | 18 (56.3) | 25 (69.4) | 0.819 |
1 | 12 (37.5) | 6 (15.8) | 11 (34.4) | 5 (13.2) | 9 (28.1) | 7 (19.4) | |||
2 | 5 (15.6) | 2 (5.3) | 1 (3.1) | 4 (10.5) | 2 (6.3) | 2 (5.6) | |||
3 | 5 (15.6) | 5 (13.2) | 5 (15.6) | 3 (7.9) | 3 (9.4) | 2 (5.6) | |||
Tingling N (%): 0 | 20 (62.5) | 12 (31.6) | 0.060 | 19 (59.4) | 13 (34.2) | 0.052 | 22 (68.8) | 13 (36.1) | 0.009* |
1 | 7 (21.9) | 15 (39.5) | 10 (31.3) | 13 (34.2) | 9 (28.1) | 15 (41.7) | |||
2 | 3 (9.4) | 8 (21.1) | 1 (3.1) | 9 (23.7) | 0 (0.0) | 4 (11.1) | |||
3 | 2 (6.3) | 3 (7.9) | 2 (6.3) | 3 (7.9) | 1 (3.1) | 4 (11.1) | |||
Cosmetic N (%): 4 | 28 (87.5) | 10 (26.3) | < 0.001* | 24 (75.0) | 10 (26.3) | < 0.001* | 30 (93.8) | 12 (33.3) | < 0.001* |
3 | 3 (9.4) | 7 (18.4) | 6 (18.8) | 10 (26.3) | 1 (3.1) | 12 (33.3) | |||
2 | 1 (3.1) | 14 (36.8) | 1 (3.1) | 15 (39.5) | 0 (0.0) | 8 (22.2) | |||
1 | 0 (0.0) | 7 (18.4) | 0 (0.0) | 3 (7.9) | 0 (0.0) | 2 (5.6) | |||
0 | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (3.1) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (3.1) | 2 (5.6) | |||
Voice impairment N (%): 0 | 24 (75.0) | 20 (52.6) | 0.404 | 26 (81.3) | 19 (50.0) | 0.063 | 29 (90.6) | 26 (72.2) | 0.269 |
1 | 0 (0.0) | 3 (7.9) | 1 (3.1) | 3 (7.9) | 1 (3.1) | 5 (13.9) | |||
2 | 1 (3.1) | 2 (5.3) | 2 (6.3) | 10 (26.3) | 1 (3.1) | 4 (11.1) | |||
3 | 1 (3.1) | 5 (13.2) | 1 (3.1) | 4 (10.5) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | |||
4 | 6 (18.8) | 8 (21.1) | 2 (6.3) | 2 (5.3) | 1 (3.1) | 1 (2.8) | |||
Swallowing impairment N (%): 0 | 19 (59.4) | 18 (47.4) | 0.281 | 24 (75.0) | 19 (50.0) | 0.036* | 27 (84.4) | 26 (72.2) | 0.508 |
1 | 4 (12.5) | 0 (0.0) | 2 (6.3) | 3 (7.9) | 2 (6.3) | 2 (5.6) | |||
2 | 4 (12.5) | 9 (23.7) | 5 (15.6) | 6 (15.8) | 3 (9.4) | 4 (11.1) | |||
3 | 3 (9.4) | 1 (2.6) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (2.6) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (2.8) | |||
4 | 2 (6.3) | 10 (26.3) | 1 (3.1) | 9 (23.7) | 0 (0.0) | 3 (8.3) | |||
Neck movement impairment N (%): 0 | 6 (18.8) | 10 (26.3) | > 0.999 | 12 (37.5) | 15 (39.5) | > 0.999 | 21 (65.6) | 18 (50.0) | 0.622 |
1 | 6 (18.8) | 3 (7.9) | 10 (31.3) | 5 (13.2) | 5 (15.6) | 8 (22.2) | |||
2 | 8 (25.0) | 9 (23.7) | 5 (15.6) | 8 (21.1) | 3 (9.4) | 6 (16.7) | |||
3 | 3 (9.4) | 4 (10.5) | 1 (3.1) | 3 (7.9) | 2 (6.3) | 0 (0.0) | |||
4 | 9 (28.1) | 12 (31.6) | 4 (12.5) | 7 (18.4) | 1 (3.1) | 4 (11.1) | |||
Shoulder movement impairment N (%): 0 | 30 (93.8) | 36 (94.7) | > 0.999 | 30 (93.8) | 33 (86.8) | > 0.999 | 32 (100.0) | 34 (94.4) | NA |
1 | 2 (6.3) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (3.1) | 3 (7.9) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (2.8) | |||
2 | 0 (0.0) | 1 (2.6) | 1 (3.1) | 2 (5.3) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | |||
3 | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | |||
4 | 0 (0.0) | 1 (2.6) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (2.8) | |||
Physical activity reduction N (%): 0 | 22 (68.8) | 11 (29.0) | 0.001* | 27 (84.4) | 26 (68.4) | 0.303 | 29 (90.6) | 29 (80.6) | 0.620 |
1 | 3 (9.4) | 1 (2.6) | 3 (9.4) | 4 (10.5) | 3 (9.4) | 3 (8.3) | |||
2 | 2 (6.3) | 10 (26.3) | 1 (3.1) | 4 (10.5) | 0 (0.0) | 2 (5.6) | |||
3 | 3 (9.4) | 3 (7.9) | 1 (3.1) | 3 (7.9) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (2.8) | |||
4 | 2 (6.3) | 13 (34.2) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (2.6) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (2.8) | |||
Psychosocial impairment N (%): 0 | 28 (87.5) | 17 (44.7) | < 0.001* | 29 (90.6) | 25 (65.8) | 0.028* | 32 (100.0) | 28 (77.8) | NA |
1 | 3 (9.4) | 4 (10.5) | 3 (9.4) | 4 (10.5) | 0 (0.0) | 2 (5.6) | |||
2 | 0 (0.0) | 3 (7.9) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (2.6) | 0 (0.0) | 2 (5.6) | |||
3 | 1 (3.1 | 1 (2.6) | 0 (0.0) | 2 (5.3) | 0 (0.0) | 3 (8.3) | |||
4 | 0 (0.00) | 13 (34.2) | 0 (0.0) | 6 (15.8) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (2.8) | |||
VAS Pain score (0–10) Mean (SD) | 1.6 (2.0) | 1.6 (2.3) | > 0.999 | 0.6 (1.5) | 1.3 (1.9) | 0.298 | 0.3 (1.0) | 0.6 (1.5) | > 0.999 |
Overall satisfaction (10–0) Mean (SD) | 8.9 (1.3) | 7.3 (2.2) | < 0.001* | 9.4 (0.7) | 8.1 (1.8) | 0.001* | 9.8 (0.4) | 8.9 (1.7) | 0.022* |