Ann Plast Reconstr Surg | Volume 2, Issue 1 | Review Article | Open Access
Jokuszies A1*, Lipski A1, Mett T1, Boyce M1, Schwarze M2, Gutenbrunner C2 and Vogt PM1
1Department of Plastic, Aesthetic, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
2Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
*Correspondance to: Andreas Jokuszies
Fulltext PDFIntroduction: Plastic and reconstructive procedures of the pelvis, groin and anogenital regions aim to restore form and function. Close proximity to the rectum, outer and internal genitals, makes these reconstructive procedures demanding for the surgeon. Diseases and defects after trauma, or tumour resection and concomitant functional disorders, result in physical and psychological distress for the patient. The impact on the patient continues post operation, affecting their ability to rehabilitate back into a balanced social life. This paper presents an inaugural study into health related quality of life assessment of patients, post plastic and reconstructive procedures of the pelvis, groin and anogenital regions. Material and
Methods: From 2006 until 2013 24 patients were incorporated into this retrospective and monocentric study. The health related quality of life was recorded via the SF-36 questionnaire (female/n=9 and male/n=15). The average age was 56,88 years (36 to 75 years). In 15 cases, defects were the result of tumour resection and in 9 cases, a result of trauma. In two cases, a one-stage, and in the other cases, a multiple-stage defect closure was performed. The interval from diagnosis to defect closure was on average 0,96 years (± 1,44 years) in the trauma group, and 2,91 years (± 2,24 years) in the tumour group.
Results: Defect related physical impairment is considered more serious than the underlying disease. Women tend to rate their physical and psychological quality of life more highly, when compared to men. One-stage defect closure influences health related quality of life more favourable than multiple-stage procedures. There is greater age dependency in the physical dimensions. As expected, tumour patients have a poorer health related quality of life compared to trauma patients. Quality of life is rated more highly after free flap transfer, compared to pedicle flaps. Anus praeter, and urinary incontinence, have no influence on the quality of life.
Conclusion: Plastic and reconstructive procedures that aim to treat defect closure of the pelvis, groin and genitoanal region, lead to quality of life and health related improvements.
Quality of life; Anogenital; Defect closure; SF 36; Incontinence
Jokuszies A, Lipski A, Mett T, Boyce M, Schwarze M, Gutenbrunner C, et al. Quality of Life after Plastic and Reconstructive Procedures in the Hip and Anogenital Region. Ann Plast Reconstr Surg. 2018;2(1):1006.