We read with interest the above article by Zehnpfennig et al.
1
While we admire the efforts by Zehnpfennig and colleagues in evaluating the impact
of delayed wound healing in patients who underwent breast cancer surgery, we question
whether BREAST-Q was the most appropriate tool in this situation. Although the validity
and reliability of BREAST-Q have been repeatedly demonstrated, and it is undeniable
that delayed wound healing can have an impact on patients’ quality of life (QoL),
perhaps it is worth to take a step back to contemplate the fundamental question being
asked here - “the impact of delayed wound healing on patient-reported outcomes after breast cancer
surgery”.
1
Are we merely trying to ascertain patients’ overall satisfaction with breast cancer
surgery, albeit with some difficulties during recovery, or do we seek to investigate
the specifics of how delayed wound healing could affect patients’ QoL?Keywords
Abbreviations:
QoL (quality of life), PROMs (patient reported outcome measures), MID (minimal important differences), DWH (delayed wound healing), NWH (normal wound healing)To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
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References
Zehnpfennig L, Ritter M, Montagna G, et al. The impact of delayed wound healing on patient-reported outcomes after breast cancer surgery. J Plast Reconstruct Aesthet Surg.
- Development of a new patient-reported outcome measure for breast surgery: the BREAST-Q.Plast Reconstr Surg. 2009; 124: 345-353
- Giving meaning to patient reported outcomes in breast reconstruction after mastectomy - A systematic review of available scores and suggestions for further research.Breast. 2022; 61: 91-97
- International mixed methods study protocol to develop a patient-reported outcome measure for all types of chronic wounds (the WOUND-Q).BMJ Open. 2020; 10e032332
Article info
Publication history
Published online: August 28, 2022
Accepted:
August 16,
2022
Received:
July 29,
2022
Identification
Copyright
Crown Copyright © 2022 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons. All rights reserved.
ScienceDirect
Access this article on ScienceDirectLinked Article
- The impact of delayed wound healing on patient-reported outcomes after breast cancer surgeryJournal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic SurgeryVol. 75Issue 11
- PreviewPostoperative complications after breast cancer surgery may be associated with decreased quality of life. It remains unclear whether oncoplastic breast-conserving surgery or mastectomy with reconstruction lead to more postoperative complications than conventional breast surgery (CBS). As delayed wound healing (DWH) is one of the most frequent minor complications, we sought to investigate the significance of DWH for patient-reported outcomes after oncoplastic, reconstructive, and CBS.
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