BACKGROUND: Nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM) is more technically challenging than skin-sparing mastectomy (SSM) but offers quality-of-life and cosmetic advantages. However, surgeon physical symptoms related to NSM workload have not been documented. METHODS: This was a prospective study using questionnaires to compare surgeon-reported physical symptoms before, during, and after NSM versus SSM. Surgeons also answered general questions about each mastectomy. Bilateral cases were performed simultaneously by two surgeons, who completed independent questionnaires. RESULTS: Questionnaires were completed after 82 SSMs and 44 NSMs. On a 0-10 scale, surgeons reported NSM was more physically demanding than SSM (7.0 vs. 4.5, p < 0.001). Mean visualization was more difficult (5.7 vs. 3.2, p < 0.001) and mean fatigue score was greater (5.6 vs. 3.1, p < 0.001) after NSM than SSM. The mean increase in neck pain (on a 0-4 scale) was greater for NSM than SSM, both from before-to-during surgery (0.8 vs. 0.2, p = 0.003) and before-to-after surgery (0.9 vs. 0.2, p = 0.002). The mean increase in lower back pain was greater for NSM than SSM, both from before-to-during surgery (0.7 vs. 0.2, p = 0.008) and before-to-after surgery (0.9 vs. 0.2, p = 0.003). Surgeons reported that NSM was more mentally demanding (p < 0.001), complex (p = 0.01), and difficult (p < 0.001) than SSM. CONCLUSION: Surgeons experienced greater physical symptoms, mental strain, and fatigue with NSM than SSM. This raises concern that mild but repetitive pain over the course of a breast surgeon's career may lead to repetitive stress injury.
BACKGROUND: Nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM) is more technically challenging than skin-sparing mastectomy (SSM) but offers quality-of-life and cosmetic advantages. However, surgeon physical symptoms related to NSM workload have not been documented. METHODS: This was a prospective study using questionnaires to compare surgeon-reported physical symptoms before, during, and after NSM versus SSM. Surgeons also answered general questions about each mastectomy. Bilateral cases were performed simultaneously by two surgeons, who completed independent questionnaires. RESULTS: Questionnaires were completed after 82 SSMs and 44 NSMs. On a 0-10 scale, surgeons reported NSM was more physically demanding than SSM (7.0 vs. 4.5, p < 0.001). Mean visualization was more difficult (5.7 vs. 3.2, p < 0.001) and mean fatigue score was greater (5.6 vs. 3.1, p < 0.001) after NSM than SSM. The mean increase in neck pain (on a 0-4 scale) was greater for NSM than SSM, both from before-to-during surgery (0.8 vs. 0.2, p = 0.003) and before-to-after surgery (0.9 vs. 0.2, p = 0.002). The mean increase in lower back pain was greater for NSM than SSM, both from before-to-during surgery (0.7 vs. 0.2, p = 0.008) and before-to-after surgery (0.9 vs. 0.2, p = 0.003). Surgeons reported that NSM was more mentally demanding (p < 0.001), complex (p = 0.01), and difficult (p < 0.001) than SSM. CONCLUSION: Surgeons experienced greater physical symptoms, mental strain, and fatigue with NSM than SSM. This raises concern that mild but repetitive pain over the course of a breast surgeon's career may lead to repetitive stress injury.
Authors: Ko Un Park; Sandy Lee; Angela Sarna; Matthew Chetta; Steven Schulz; Doreen Agnese; Valerie Grignol; William Carson; Roman J Skoracki Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2021-11-15 Impact factor: 2.692
Authors: Walter P Weber; Martin Haug; Christian Kurzeder; Vesna Bjelic-Radisic; Rupert Koller; Roland Reitsamer; Florian Fitzal; Jorge Biazus; Fabricio Brenelli; Cicero Urban; Régis Resende Paulinelli; Jens-Uwe Blohmer; Jörg Heil; Jürgen Hoffmann; Zoltan Matrai; Giuseppe Catanuto; Viviana Galimberti; Oreste Gentilini; Mitchel Barry; Tal Hadar; Tanir M Allweis; Oded Olsha; Maria João Cardoso; Pedro F Gouveia; Isabel T Rubio; Jana de Boniface; Tor Svensjö; Susanne Bucher; Peter Dubsky; Jian Farhadi; Mathias K Fehr; Ilario Fulco; Ursula Ganz-Blättler; Andreas Günthert; Yves Harder; Nik Hauser; Elisabeth A Kappos; Michael Knauer; Julia Landin; Robert Mechera; Francesco Meani; Giacomo Montagna; Mathilde Ritter; Ramon Saccilotto; Fabienne D Schwab; Daniel Steffens; Christoph Tausch; Jasmin Zeindler; Savas D Soysal; Visnu Lohsiriwat; Tibor Kovacs; Anne Tansley; Lynda Wyld; Laszlo Romics; Mahmoud El-Tamer; Andrea L Pusic; Virgilio Sacchini; Michael Gnant Journal: Breast Cancer Res Treat Date: 2018-09-04 Impact factor: 4.872