[Sensibility of the abdomen after high superior tension abdominoplasty].
BACKGROUND
Patients who undergo an abdominoplasty frequently complain about the loss of sensibility of the abdominal wall. In this study, we analyze this sensibility after the high tension abdominoplasty.


METHODS
This is a prospective study of 23 females operated between July 2003 and January 2005. The abdominoplasty technique used in our study combines extensive liposuccion, limited undermining centered on the linea alba and traction sutures. The sensibilty tests are carried out preoperatively, as well as at 3 and 6 months postoperatively. The three components of the skin sensibility -tactile, algesic and thermic- are evaluated in four differents areas of the abdomen.


RESULTS
In the lateral areas of the abdomen (liposucted only), the thermoalgesic sensibility is diminished at 3 months and completely recovers at 6 months. At 3 months postoperatively, the tactile sensibility is even better than the preoperative one and continues to improve by 6 months. The postoperative hypogastric area is widely undermined during surgery. In this area, the three types of sensibility are heavily altered at 3 months and only partially recover at 6 months. The undermining of the postoperative epigastric area is limited. In this zone, the postoperative thermoalgesic sensibility is diminished at 3 months, but completely recovers at 6 months. At 3 months, the tactile sensibility is less than the preoperative one, but it improves with time to even exceed the preoperative values at 6 months.


CONCLUSIONS
The high tension abdominoplasty only needs a limited undermining and largely preserves the innervation of the abdominal flap. Only the hypogastric area, largely undermined, presents a sensitivity loss. These results are better than those previously reported in the literature.
Castus
P
P
Service de chirurgie plastique, centre hospitalier de Luxembourg, 4, rue Barblé, 1210 Luxembourg, Luxembourg; Service de chirurgie plastique, CHU Sart-Tilman, 4000 Liège, Belgique. pcastus@hotmail.com
Grandjean
F-X
FX
Tourbach
S
S
Heymans
O
O
D034861:Abdominal Wall / Q000294:innervation / Q000601:surgery*; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006987:Hypesthesia / Q000209:etiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods*; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome