Table 4. Comparison of FNP rates in patients with vs. without preoperative FN imaging using 3D-DESS-WE-MRI.
| Method | Group | No. | Temporary FNP | Permanent FNP | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. (%, 95% CI) | OR (95% CI) | P | No. (%, 95% CI) | OR (95% CI) | P | |||
| Before PS matching | MRI (-) | 165 | 4 (2.4, 1.0 to 6.1) | Ref. | < 0.001 | 2 (1.2, 0.15 to 4.31) | Ref. | < 0.001 |
| MRI (+) | 105 | 26 (24.8, 17.5 to 33.8) | 10.47 (3.80 to 36.96) | 16 (15.2, 8.97 to 23.56) | 11.03 (2.94 to 71.81) | |||
| After PS matching | MRI (-) | 65 | 4 (6.2, 2.4 to 15.8) | Ref. | 0.206 | 2 (3.1, 0.37 to 10.68) | Ref. | 0.46 |
| MRI (+) | 65 | 10 (15.4, 7.6 to 26.5) | 2.29 (0.64 to 8.25) | 5 (7.7, 2.54 to 17.05) | 2.02 (0.32 to 12.90) | |||
| Stabilized IPTW analysis | MRI (-) | 133 | 7 (5.1, 2.14 to 10.54) | Ref. | 0.526 | 1 (0.7, 0.02 to 4.12) | Ref. | 0.567 |
| MRI (+) | 83 | 17 (19.3, 12.4 to 30.8) | 1.76 (0.19 to 16.75) | 11 (12.3, 6.81 to 22.48) | 1.94 (0.20 to 18.49) | |||
The extent of surgery can be changed by MRI findings. In statistical analyses, we adjusted this potential mediator effect of the surgical extent, to estimate the relative impact of 3D-DESS-WE-MRI on FNP occurrence. Statistical analysis using a generalized estimating equation (PS matching), or a logistic regression model with a stabilization (trimming) of extreme propensity scores (< 0.1 or > 0.9) (stabilized IPTW analysis).
FNP = facial nerve palsy, FN = facial nerve, 3D-DESS-WE-MRI = three-dimensional double-echo steady-state water-excitation sequence magnetic resonance imaging, CI = confidence interval, OR = odds ratio, PS = propensity score, MRI = magnetic resonance imaging, Ref. = reference, IPTW = inverse probability of treatment weighting