Is modified vestibulectomy for localized provoked vulvodynia an effective long-term treatment? A follow-up study.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether vestibulectomy is an effective long-term treatment and investigate the levels of patient satisfaction in women with localized provoked vulvodynia, and to provide long-term follow-up data from a cohort of women whose short-term success rates have been published previously.


METHODS
A retrospective case note review of 110 women with localized provoked vulvodynia and follow-up patient questionnaire. Patients were asked to quantify their pain scores before surgery, at 2 months after surgery and 1 year after surgery and score their satisfaction levels.


RESULTS
Mean pain scores continued to improve throughout the first postoperative year. The mean score was 9.17 preoperatively, 5.24 at 2 months after surgery and 2.48 at 1 year after surgery. Eighty-three percent of patients would recommend the procedure as effective treatment of localized provoked vulvodynia. The overall mean satisfaction score was 7.96, and long-term success appears to be reflected by short-term results.


CONCLUSIONS
Vestibulectomy is an effective long-term treatment for women with provoked localized vulvodynia; the procedure is associated with high levels of patient satisfaction and low complication rates. Shortterm success appears to be a good indicator of long-term improvement, and improve- ment continues throughout the first postoperative year.
Eva
Lois J
LJ
Department of Gynaecological Oncology, Pan Birmingham Cancer Centre, Birmingham, England. loiseva@supanet.com
Narain
Sumana
S
Orakwue
C Obi
CO
Luesley
David M
DM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000601:surgery; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D054515:Vulvar Vestibulitis / Q000601:surgery*