Systematic review of outcomes reported in trials of facial trauma.
Br J Oral Maxillofac SurgMay 27, 2026 (epub)
Ka Yu Keith Cheung, Neel Badhe, Smruti Pashte et al.
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review analyzed outcomes reported in trials of facial trauma, focusing on studies with 50 or more patients. A total of 131 articles were included, revealing 151 distinct outcomes mapped to the WHO ICF framework. The review highlighted significant heterogeneity in outcome reporting, with no single patient-reported outcome measure consistently used across studies.
Key findings
- A total of 151 distinct outcomes were identified across the included trials.
- In mandibular fracture trials, infections (56%) and mouth structure (53%) were the most frequently reported outcomes.
- Pain was the most common outcome reported in midfacial fracture trials (37%).
- Only seven patient-reported outcome measures were identified across 10 trials.
Why it matters
The variability in outcome reporting in facial trauma trials complicates the synthesis of evidence and may affect clinical decision-making. Standardized outcome measures are essential for improving the quality and relevance of future research.