Objective integrated assessment of functional outcomes in reduction mammaplasty

A large number of studies focused on the benefits of a reduction mammaplasty on breast hypertrophy-related functional impairments are reported in the literature. Nevertheless, the vast majority of these reports are actually supported by subjectively based data from quality of life questionnaires. The only exception in such a homogeneous context is a study where the pulmonary function was objectively evaluated before and after surgical correction of breast hypertrophy with a reduction mammaplasty. Recently, a new method was introduced to objectively analyze postural variations after a breast reduction by means of static stabilometry. The aim of our study is an integrated assessment of the functional outcomes of reduction mammaplasty. Evaluation was carried out with the integration of 4 different subjective and objective methods:a full clinical physiatric examination, the Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) for low back pain, the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and a new static force platform