title: Continuous quality management of breast hypertrophy by the German Association of Plastic Surgeons: a preliminary report.
abstract: In 1998, the German Association of Plastic Surgeons started a new quality assurance program based on a standardized questionnaire to examine the tracer diagnosis "breast hypertrophy." The authors present the results of a pilot study evaluating 799 patients (mean age, 38 years). Breast reduction was performed as an inpatient procedure in 99% of patients. Mean weight reduction was 1,135 g (range, 140-3,870 g). The inverted-T scar technique was used in 45% of patients, the vertical scar technique in 52% of patients, and other techniques were restricted to 2% of patients. The selection of technique was based on the choice of the surgeon. The overall incidence of complications was 21.5%, and included predominantly wound dehiscence, without marked differences between the two techniques. Less than 10 years after the introduction of a new technique for breast reduction with reduced length of scar, it is now used as often as traditional methods.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, University of Heidelberg, Ludwigshafen, Germany.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Menke
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eisenmann-Klein
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Olbrisch
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Exner
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001940:Breast / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D006984:Hypertrophy; D016462:Mammaplasty / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires