A facial disorder or disfigurement can result in permanent impairment for the patient. The AMA has developed criteria for estimating the severity of this impairment
Parameters:
(1) facial abnormality or disfigurement
(2) facial paralysis
(3) status of nose
Signs and symptoms:
(1) history of burns, trauma or infection
(2) history of congenital deformity
(3) history of surgery for cancer or other cause; plastic surgery
Facial Abnormality
Facial Paralysis
Nose
Impairment of the Whole Person
limited to skin (scar, pigmentation)
mild, unilateral, total
distortion affecting appearance
0 – 5%
loss of supporting structure with or without loss of overlying skin
moderate, unilateral, total
loss of supporting bone or cartilage
6 – 10%
loss of normal structure with cosmetic deformity; loss of eye
severe, unilateral, total; mild, bilateral, total
loss of part of nose
11 – 15%
massive or total distortion; socially unaccepted
severe, bilateral, total
loss of a major portion of the entire nose
16 – 50%
where:
• Loss of supporting structure to face includes depressed cheek or frontal bone.
• The moderate facial paralysis and mild bilateral were added (no entry in original table).
• Loss involves both functional and psychological impacts.
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