BMI and Revision Surgery for Abdominoplasties: Complication Definitions Revisited Using the Clavien-Dindo Classification.

After body contouring surgery of the lower trunk (CSLT), the definition, rate (4%-70%), and documentation of complications vary. Objectives: We analyzed the effect of risk factors on the outcome based on the Clavien-Dindo classification (CDC) after CSLT surgery and polled postoperative satisfaction among patients. Methods: All patients undergoing CSLT from 2001 to 2016 were included and were classified according to the CDC for postoperative events. Statistical analysis included proportional odds logistic regression analysis. We polled patients to grade their satisfaction with the postoperative result and whether they would have the operation performed again. Results: A total of 265 patients were included: 60 (22.6%), 25 (9.4%), 28 (10.6%), and 21 (7.9%) were in CDC grades I, II, IIIa, and IIIb, respectively. A high preoperative body mass index significantly increased the odds for a postoperative event requiring revision surgery under general anesthesia (CDC grade IIIb, odds ratio 0.93, 95% confidence interval 0.89-0.97, P = 0.001). One-hundred twenty-eight patients (48.3%) participated in the poll: 101 (78.9%) were either happy or content with the postoperative results, and 117 (91.4%) would have the procedure performed again, including all nine patients with CDC grade IIIb. Conclusions: Our results confirm that a high body mass index is a statistically significant risk factor for requiring major revision surgery after CSLT. Despite being a complication prone intervention, postoperative satisfaction after CSLT was ranked favorably in our sample. We recommend that the CDC be used in all surgical specialties to evaluate complications and permit future comparability of pooled data.

Donor site morbidity after the harvest of microvascular flaps from the medial and lateral femoral condyle region: Objective, radiologic, and patient-reported outcome of a multi-center trial.

BACKGROUND: With the experience-based hypothesis of low donor site morbidity (DSM) for free flaps from the distal femur, this cohort study aimed to evaluate the DSM according to objective and reproducible criteria. METHODS: One hundred and fifty-six patients who had a flap harvest from either the medial or lateral femoral condyle region between 2005 and 2017 were included. A retrospective chart review was performed for all patients. In total, 97 patients were available for a follow-up examination. Outcomes were assessed according to objective (Knee Society Score; Larson Knee Score; OAK Score; 0-100 points), patient-reported (IKDC Score; KOOS Score; 0-100 points), and radiologic criteria (Kellgren and Lawrence Score; MRI Osteoarthritis Knee Score). RESULTS: The median follow-up time was 1529 days (range: 248-4,810). The mean Knee Society Score (94.8 ± 10.1), Larson Knee Score (94.5 ± 10.1), and OAK Score (95.5 ± 6.6) showed nearly unimpaired knee function. The overall patient-reported DSM was low (IKDC Score: 86.7 ± 17.4; KOOS Score: 89.3 ± 17.1). Osteochondral (OC) flaps had a significantly higher DSM, regardless of the donor site. Bone flaps did not show any relevant radiologic morbidity in the Kellgren and Lawrence Score. Besides the procedure-associated cartilage lesions at the OC donor sites, MRI Osteoarthritis Knee Score did not show any significant presence of further knee pathologies in the bilateral MRI Scans. The obvious cartilage lesions did not have a relevant impact on the knee function of most patients. CONCLUSION: The DSM for bone and soft-tissue flaps from the femoral condyle region is negligible. OC flaps are associated with a significantly higher DSM, although a clinically relevant impact on knee function was not evident in the majority of patients.

Nerve decompression according to A.L. Dellon in Morton's neuroma - A retrospective analysis.

BACKGROUND: First reported by Dellon et al. in 1992, nerve decompression by dissecting the deep transversal intermetatarsal ligament through a dorsal incision appears to be a reliable method for treating Morton's neuroma by addressing its underlying pathomechanism, since it should rather be considered as Morton's entrapment. As there are no current studies dealing with Dellon's surgical technique, we carried out a retrospective analysis with the aim of showing that nerve decompression is an effective method to treat Morton's neuroma, and one that considers its true pathology. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All patients with a clinical diagnosis of Morton's neuroma, verified by MRI and treated by nerve decompression were included in this study in the years from 2010 to 2018 at our department. Follow-up was performed at least six months post-intervention; pain and function history were ascertained using the VAS (visual analogue scale) score and the German foot function index. Skin sensitivity testing was performed using Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments. RESULTS: A total of 12 patients were treated and followed-up during the study period. Postoperatively, there was significant improvement in the values of the VAS score both under strain (p-value: 0.0021) and at rest (p-value: 0.0062), as well as in the foot function index (p-value: 0.0022). There was no significant difference in skin sensitivity of the innervation areas of the interdigital nerves of the affected foot compared with the healthy reference foot (p-value: 0.0968). CONCLUSION: Dellon's decompression method yielded a highly positive outcome, and based on our findings, we consider it a reliable, technically simple and promising approach to treat Morton's neuroma. It is a minimally invasive technique that addresses the pathomechanism of peripheral nerve entrapment and has a low rate of complication as well as rapid patient recovery.

[Evaluation of the online-presence (homepages) of plastic-surgical departments in Germany, Austria and Switzerland]. / Evaluation der Online-Präsenz (Homepages) plastischer Chirurgien im DACH Raum.

INTRODUCTION: During the past decade, the share of households in the EU with internet access has increased from 55 % in 2007 to 85 % in 2016. During that time the internet has become the most commonly used tool for communication and information acquisition. In health-care the website of a department may be advantageous to inform patients adequately and stay in contact with them. The aim of this study was to evaluate the online-presence of plastic surgery departments in the DACH-area (Germany [Deutschland], Austria and Switzerland [Confoederatio Helvetica]). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Homepages of plastic surgery departments in the DACH-area were identified and evaluated according to 40 different criteria from the five categories "general information", "information brokerage", "science and teaching", "information for patients and relatives" and "information on treatment". Additionally, all departments were searched for using the Google search engine and the rank in the list of search results was documented. The results from departments affiliated with a university and such without affiliation were compared using the t-test as well as the chi2-test. RESULTS: Of the 172 departments found, most were from Germany (77 %), followed by Switzerland (15 %) and Austria (8 %). As contact reference, a telephone number was given on all of the homepages and on 95 % of the websites the range of available treatments was elucidated. 95 % of the homepages were available in German, with only 22 % being available in English. At least seven and at max 34 of the 40 criteria were fulfilled. The three least commonly fulfilled criteria were information on first-aid measures in case of injury, information on possible waiting times and information on the number of intensive-care beds available to plastic surgery patients (all 4 %). The median Google-rank of the homepages was first. Departments affiliated to a university met 14 of the examination-criteria significantly more often than those without affiliation. CONCLUSION: The online-presence of plastic surgery department in the DACH-area can be summed up as sufficient. On average homepages of departments affiliated with a university conveyed more information. Nevertheless, information on first-aid measures in case of injuries and multilingual presentation need to be improved.