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Purpose: To evaluate patient-reported cosmetic satisfaction in women treated with radiation therapy for breast cancer and to determine the association between dissatisfaction and quality of life (QoL) and depression. Methods: Within the prospective UMBRELLA breast cancer cohort, all patients ≥ 1 year after breast conserving treatment or mastectomy with immediate reconstruction were selected. Self-reported cosmetic satisfaction was measured on a 5-point Likert scale. QoL, social functioning, and emotional functioning were measured using EORTC QLQ-C30 and BR23 at 1, 2, and 3 years after inclusion. Mixed model analysis was performed to assess the difference in different domains of QoL between patients with good versus poor self-reported cosmetic satisfaction over time after adjustment for potential confounders. Depression scores were collected by means of the HADS-NL questionnaire. Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test was used to assess the difference in proportions of HADS score ≥ 8, indicating increased depression risk, between satisfied and dissatisfied patients. Results: 808 patients were selected for analysis. Respectively one, two, and three years after surgery, 8% (63/808), 7% (45/626), and 8% (31/409) of patients were dissatisfied with their cosmetic outcome. Poor patient-reported cosmetic satisfaction was independently associated with impaired QoL, body image, and lower emotional and social functioning. Scores ≥ 8 on the HADS depression subscale were significantly more common in dissatisfied patients. Conclusions: Dissatisfaction with cosmetic outcome was low after breast cancer surgery followed by radiation therapy during 3 years follow-up. Knowing the association between dissatisfaction with cosmetic outcome and QoL and depression could help to improve the preoperative counseling of breast cancer patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Oncoplastic reconstructive surgery as an extension of breast-conserving surgery leads to better aesthetic results, an increase in tumor-free margins, and a reduction in reexcision rates. Oncologic resection is often more extensive than expected, sometimes resulting in the plastic surgeon deviating from the predetermined plan. For optimal planning of the reconstruction, it is mandatory to estimate volume defects after lumpectomy as accurately as possible. The authors aimed to identify preoperative predictors of lumpectomy resection size., Methods: All consecutive patients diagnosed with invasive breast carcinoma or carcinoma in situ and treated primarily with breast-conserving surgery between 2018 and 2020 at the University Medical Center Utrecht or Alexander Monro Hospital were included. Patient and tumor characteristics were measured. Data were analyzed in a multiple linear regression analysis., Results: A total of 410 patients (423 cases) were included, with a median age of 58 years (range, 32 to 84 years) and a mean body mass index (BMI) of 25.0 (SD 9.3). The mean maximum radiologic tumor diameter was 18.0 mm (SD 13.2), and the mean maximum lumpectomy diameter was 58.8 mm (SD 19.2). Multiple linear regression analysis found an explained variance of R 2 = 0.60 ( P < 0.00), corrected for operating surgeon. Significant predictors for postoperative lumpectomy size were BMI, breast size, and maximum preoperative radiologic tumor diameter. A predictive tool for lumpectomy size was developed and a web-based application created to facilitate use of the tool in a clinical setting., Conclusions: Postoperative lumpectomy size can be predicted using BMI, breast size, and radiologic tumor size. This model could be beneficial for breast surgeons in planning reconstructions and preparing and informing their patients more accurately., Clinical Question/level of Evidence: Risk, III., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.)

Introduction: The goal of lower-extremity reconstructions is primarily to salvage the leg; however, esthetic outcomes are also important. This study aimed to assess the impact of a lower extremity free tissue transfer regarding social functioning, patient-reported esthetic outcomes, and possible differences between fasciocutaneous vs. muscle flaps., Material and Methods: For this cross-sectional multicenter study, patients operated between 2003 and 2021, with a minimum follow-up of 12 months, were identified. Outcomes were obtained from 89 patients. Patient-reported outcomes were assessed using a questionnaire containing 5-point Likert scale questions grouped in three groups: aspect of the reconstructed leg, the aspect of the donor site, and the negative impact on social functioning. Physical functioning and mental health were assessed with the Short-Form-36., Results: The overall score for negative impact on social functioning was 22.2. This was 46.7 for the esthetic satisfaction of the reconstructed leg and 57.1 for the donor site. No significant differences were seen between patients who underwent a reconstruction with a fasciocutaneous flap compared to a muscle flap. Secondary surgical procedures for improving the esthetic aspect were performed in 12% of the patients in the fasciocutaneous group and 0% in the muscle group., Conclusion: Our results show that the most optimal esthetic outcome is not defined by the type of flap. We found a strong correlation between physical functioning and the negative impact on social functioning that a reconstructed lower extremity may have. The result of this study can be taken into consideration during the shared decision-making process of choosing the most optimal reconstruction., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors have no conflict of interest or financial disclosures., (Copyright © 2024 British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Knowledge about factors associated with long-term outcomes, after severe traumatic injury to the lower extremity, can aid with the difficult decision whether to salvage or amputate the leg and improve outcome. We therefore studied factors independently associated with capability at a minimum of 1 year after amputation or free flap limb salvage., Methods: We included 135 subjects with a free flap lower extremity reconstruction and 41 subjects with amputation, between 1991 and 2021 at two urban-level 1 trauma centers with a mean follow-up of 11 ± 7 years. Long-term physical functioning was assessed using the Physical Component Score (PCS) of the Short-Form 36 (SF36) and the Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS) questionnaires. Independent variables included demographics, injury characteristics, and the Mental Component Score (MCS) of the SF36., Results: Greater mental health was independently and strongly associated with greater capability, independent of amputation or limb reconstruction. Mental health explained 33% of the variation in PCS and 57% of the variation in LEFS. Injury location at the knee or leg was associated with greater capability, compared to the foot or ankle. Amputation or limb reconstruction was not associated with capability., Discussion: This study adds to the growing body of knowledge that physical health is best regarded through the lens of the bio-psycho-social model in which mental health is a strong determinant. This study supports making mental health an important aspect of rehabilitation after major lower extremity injury, regardless of amputation or limb salvage., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Importance: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is proposed as treatment for late local toxic effects after breast irradiation. Strong evidence of effectiveness is lacking., Objective: To assess effectiveness of HBOT for late local toxic effects in women who received adjuvant radiotherapy for breast cancer., Design, Setting, and Participants: This was a hospital-based, pragmatic, 2-arm, randomized clinical trial nested within the prospective UMBRELLA cohort following the trials within cohorts design in the Netherlands. Participants included 189 women with patient-reported moderate or severe breast, chest wall, and/or shoulder pain in combination with mild, moderate, or severe edema, fibrosis, or movement restriction 12 months or longer after breast irradiation. Data analysis was performed from May to September 2023., Intervention: Receipt of 30 to 40 HBOT sessions over a period of 6 to 8 consecutive weeks., Main Outcomes and Measures: Breast, chest wall, and/or shoulder pain 6 months postrandomization measured by the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-BR23 questionnaire. Secondary end points were patient-reported fibrosis, edema, movement restriction, and overall quality of life. Data were analyzed according to intention-to-treat (ITT) and complier average causal effect (CACE) principles., Results: Between November 2019 and August 2022, 125 women (median [range] age at randomization, 56 [37-85] years) with late local toxic effects were offered to undergo HBOT (intervention arm), and 61 women (median [range] age at randomization, 60 [36-80] years) were randomized to the control arm. Of those offered HBOT, 31 (25%) accepted and completed treatment. The most common reason for not accepting HBOT was high treatment intensity. In ITT, moderate or severe pain at follow-up was reported by 58 of 115 women (50%) in the intervention arm and 32 of 52 women (62%) in the control arm (odds ratio [OR], 0.63; 95% CI, 0.32-1.23; P = .18). In CACE, the proportion of women reporting moderate or severe pain at follow-up was 32% (10 of 31) among those completing HBOT and 75% (9.7 of 12.9) among control participants expected to complete HBOT if offered (adjusted OR, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.15-0.80; P = .01). In ITT, moderate or severe fibrosis was reported by 35 of 107 (33%) in the intervention arm and 25 of 49 (51%) in the control arm (OR, 0.36; 95% CI, 0.15-0.81; P = .02). There were no significant differences in breast edema, movement restriction, and quality of life between groups in ITT and CACE., Conclusions and Relevance: In this randomized clinical trial, offering HBOT to women with late local toxic effects was not effective for reducing pain, but was effective for reducing fibrosis. In the subgroup of women who completed HBOT, a significant reduction in pain and fibrosis was observed. A smaller than anticipated proportion of women with late local toxic effects was prepared to undergo HBOT., Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04193722.

Purpose: During the first SARS-CoV-2-infection wave, a deterioration in emotional well-being and increased need for mental health care were observed among patients treated or being treated for breast cancer. In this follow-up study, we assessed patient-reported quality of life (QoL), physical functioning, and psychosocial well-being during the second SARS-CoV-2-infection wave in a large, representative cohort., Methods: This longitudinal cohort study was conducted within the prospective, multicenter UMBRELLA breast cancer cohort. To assess patient-reported QoL, physical functioning and psychosocial well-being, COVID-19-specific surveys were completed by patients during the first and second SARS-CoV-2-infection waves (April and November 2020, respectively). An identical survey was completed by a comparable reference population during the second SARS-CoV-2-infection waves. All surveys included the validated EORTC-QLQ-C30/BR23, HADS and "De Jong-Gierveld Loneliness" questionnaires. Pre-COVID-19 EORTC-QLQ-C30/BR23 and HADS outcomes were available from UMBRELLA. Response rates were 69.3% (n = 1106/1595) during the first SARS-CoV-2-infection wave and 50.9% (n = 822/1614) during the second wave. A total of 696 patients responded during both SARS-CoV-2-infection waves and were included in the analysis comparing patient-reported outcomes (PROs) during the second SARS-CoV-2-infection wave to PROs during the first wave. Moreover, PROs reported by all patients during the second SARS-CoV-2-infection wave (n = 822) were compared to PROs of a similar non-cancer reference population (n = 241) and to their pre-COVID-19 PROs., Results: Patient-reported QoL, physical functioning, and psychosocial well-being of patients treated or being treated for breast cancer remained stable or improved from the first to the second SARS-CoV-2-infection wave. The proportion of emotional loneliness reduced from 37.6 to 29.9% of patients. Compared to a similar non-cancer reference population, physical, emotional, and cognitive functioning, future perspectives and symptoms of dyspnea and insomnia were worse in patients treated or being treated for breast cancer during the second SARS-CoV-2-infection wave. PROs in the second wave were similar to pre-COVID-19 PROs., Conclusion: Although patients scored overall worse than individuals without breast cancer, QoL, physical functioning, and psychosocial well-being did not deteriorate between the first and second wave. During the second wave, PROs were similar to pre-COVID-19 values. Overall, current findings are cautiously reassuring for future mental health of patients treated or being treated for breast cancer., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Reduction mammaplasties are often performed at a relatively young age. Necessity of routine pathological investigation of the removed breast tissue to exclude breast cancer has been debated. Past studies have shown 0.05%-4.5% significant findings in reduction specimens, leading to an ongoing debate whether this is cost-effective. There is also no current Dutch guideline on pathological investigation of mammaplasty specimens. Because the incidence of breast cancer is rising, especially among young women, we re-evaluated the yield of routine pathological investigation of mammaplasty specimens over three decades in search of time trends., Methods: Reduction specimens from 3430 female patients examined from 1988 to 2021 in the UMC Utrecht were evaluated. Significant findings were defined as those that may lead to more intensive follow-up or surgical intervention., Results: Mean age of patients was 39 years. Of the specimens, 67.4% were normal; 28.9% displayed benign changes; 2.7%, benign tumors; 0.3%, premalignant changes; 0.8%, in situ; and 0.1%, invasive cancers. Most patients with significant findings were in their forties ( P < 0.001), the youngest patient being 29 years. Significant findings increased from 2016 onward ( P = 0.0001), 86.8% found after 2016., Conclusions: Over three decades, 1.2% of mammaplasty specimens displayed significant findings on routine pathology examination, with an incidence rising to 2.1% from 2016 onward. The main reason for this recent increase is probably attributable to super-specialization by the pathologists. While awaiting formal cost-effectiveness studies, the frequency of significant findings for now seems to justify routine pathological examination of mammaplasty reduction specimens., Competing Interests: The authors have no financial interest to declare in relation to the content of this article., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of The American Society of Plastic Surgeons.)

The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between flap harvest technique and occurrence of abdominal bulging., Methods: A retrospective analysis of 159 patients undergoing DIEP flap breast reconstruction between 2014 and 2021 in the University Medical Center Utrecht was conducted. Outcomes measured were preoperative rectus diastasis, flap weight, laterality of flap harvest (unilateral or bilateral), timing of the harvest (immediate or delayed), number of perforators harvested (single or multiple), and location of the harvested perforator (medial, lateral, or both)., Results: In 159 patients, 244 DIEP flaps were performed, 16 of these donor-sites (6.6%) developed a clinically evident abdominal bulge. When preoperative rectus abdominis diastasis was found (n = 97), postoperative bulging occurred significantly more often ( P < 0.01). Patients in whom the medial perforator artery was harvested for reconstruction (n = 114) showed less abdominal bulging than patients in whom the lateral (n = 92) was harvested ( P = 0.02). Using single versus multiple perforators for the DIEP flap, bilateral versus unilateral reconstruction or timing of the operation showed no significant difference in outcome of bulging ( P = 1.00, P = 0.78, P = 0.59, respectively)., Conclusions: The incidence of bulging in our study cohort is comparable to the literature. Harvesting the medial perforator artery for the DIEP flap showed less abdominal bulging than using the lateral perforator artery in a DIEP flap breast reconstruction. Also, preoperative rectus diastasis was found to be an important risk factor for the occurrence of bulging., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of The American Society of Plastic Surgeons.)

Purpose: The aim of this study was to develop a patient decision aid (pDA) that could support patients with breast cancer (BC) in making an informed decision about breast reconstruction (BR) after mastectomy., Methods: The development included four stages: (i) Establishment of a multidisciplinary team; (ii) Needs assessment consisting of semi-structured interviews in patients and a survey among healthcare professionals (HCPs); (iii) Creation of content, design and technical system; and (iv) Acceptability and usability testing using a think-aloud approach in patients and interviews among HCPs and representatives of the Dutch Breast Cancer Patient Organization., Results: From the needs assessment, three themes were identified: Challenging period to make a decision, Diverse motivations for a personal decision and Information needed to make a decision about BR. HCPs valued the development of a pDA, especially to prepare patients for consultation. The pDA that was developed contained three parts: first, a consultation sheet for oncological breast surgeons to introduce the choice; second, an online tool including an overview of reconstructive options, the pros and cons of each option, information on the consequences of each option for daily life, exercises to clarify personal values and patient stories; and third, a summary sheet with patients' values, preferences and questions to help inform and guide the discussion between the patient and her plastic surgeon. The pDA was perceived to be informative, helpful and easy to use by patients and HCPs., Conclusion: Consistent with information needs, a pDA was developed to support patients with BC who consider immediate BR in making an informed decision together with their plastic surgeon., Patient or Public Contribution: Patients participated in the needs assessment and in acceptability and usability testing., (© 2021 The Authors. Health Expectations published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Purpose: To evaluate perceived access to health care and preferences for health care provision among patients (being) treated for breast cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic., Methods: Longitudinal study within the prospective, multicenter UMBRELLA cohort of patients (being) treated for breast cancer. All cohort participants enrolled in UMBRELLA between October 2013 and November 2020 were sent a COVID-19-specific survey during the first and second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, i.e., April 2020 and November 2020, respectively., Results: In total, 1106 (69.3%) and 822 (50.9%) cohort participants completed the survey in the first and second wave, respectively. The proportion of patients experiencing that their treatment or follow-up care was affected due to COVID-19 decreased from 28.4% (n = 198) in April 2020 to 14.8% (n = 103) in November 2020. Throughout the pandemic, one or more hospital consultations were postponed in 10.0% (n = 82) of all patients and changed into a teleconsultation in 23.1% (n = 190). The proportion of patients who experienced a higher threshold to contact their general practitioner due to COVID-19 decreased from 29.9% (n = 204) in the first wave to 20.8% (n = 145) in the second wave. In-person consultations remained most preferred in 35.2% (n = 289) of all patients. Nearly half of all patients (48.3%, n = 396) indicated that telehealth would be a useful alternative for in-person consultations in future., Conclusion: Perceived access to health care has improved substantially throughout the pandemic. Digital care is well received by patients (being) treated for breast cancer., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Introduction: Fracture-related infection (FRI) is a severe musculoskeletal complication in orthopedic trauma surgery, causing challenges in bony and soft tissue management. Currently, negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) is often used as temporary coverage for traumatic and surgical wounds, also in cases of FRI. However, controversy exists about the impact of NPWT on the outcome in FRI, specifically on infection recurrence. Therefore, this systematic review qualitatively assesses the literature on the role of NPWT in the management of FRI., Methods: A literature search of the PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science database was performed. Studies that reported on infection recurrence related to FRI management combined with NPWT were eligible for inclusion. Quality assessment was done using the PRISMA statement and the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale., Results: After screening and quality assessment of 775 unique identified records, eight articles could be included for qualitative synthesis. All eight studies reported on infection recurrence, which ranged from 2.8% to 34.9%. Six studies described wound healing time, varying from two to seven weeks. Four studies took repeated microbial swabs during subsequent vacuum dressing changes. One study reported newly detected pathogens in 23% of the included patients, and three studies did not find new pathogens., Conclusion: This review provides an assessment of current literature on the role of NPWT in the management of soft tissue defects in patients with FRI. Due to the lack of uniformity in included studies, conclusions should be drawn with caution. Currently, there is no clear scientific evidence to support the use of NPWT as definitive treatment in FRI. At this stage, we can only recommend early soft tissue coverage (within days) with a local or free flap. NPWT may be safe for a few days as temporarily soft tissue coverage until definitive soft tissue management could be performed. However, comparative studies between NPWT and early wound closure in FRI patients are needed., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Susan Haidari et al.)

Purpose: To evaluate symptoms of late radiation toxicity, side effects, and quality of life in breast cancer patients treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT)., Methods: For this cohort study breast cancer patients treated with HBOT in 5 Dutch facilities were eligible for inclusion. Breast cancer patients with late radiation toxicity treated with ≥ 20 HBOT sessions from 2015 to 2019 were included. Breast and arm symptoms, pain, and quality of life were assessed by means of the EORTC QLQ-C30 and -BR23 before, immediately after, and 3 months after HBOT on a scale of 0-100. Determinants associated with persistent breast pain after HBOT were assessed., Results: 1005/1280 patients were included for analysis. Pain scores decreased significantly from 43.4 before HBOT to 29.7 after 3 months (p < 0.001). Breast symptoms decreased significantly from 44.6 at baseline to 28.9 at 3 months follow-up (p < 0.001) and arm symptoms decreased significantly from 38.2 at baseline to 27.4 at 3 months follow-up (p < 0.001). All quality of life domains improved at the end of HBOT and after 3 months follow-up in comparison to baseline scores. Most prevalent side effects of HBOT were myopia (any grade, n = 576, 57.3%) and mild barotrauma (n = 179, 17.8%). Moderate/severe side effects were reported in 3.2% (n = 32) of the patients. Active smoking during HBOT and shorter time (i.e., median 17.5 vs. 22.0 months) since radiotherapy were associated with persistent breast pain after HBOT., Conclusion: Breast cancer patients with late radiation toxicity reported reduced pain, breast and arm symptoms, and improved quality of life following treatment with HBOT., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Breast reconstruction and oncoplastic surgery have become an important part of breast cancer care. The use of autologous breast reconstruction (ABR) has evolved significantly with advances in microsurgery, aiming to reduce donor site complications and improve cosmesis. For years, immediate-ABR was considered a contraindication if postmastectomy irradiation (PMRT) was planned. As a result of de-escalation of axillary surgery the indication of PMRT are increasing along-side with observations that PMRT in the setting of ABR is not contraindicated. Surgical techniques may result in different amount and areas of breast residual glandular tissue and patient selection is important to reduce potential residual disease. Meticulus radiation planning is important to potentially reduce complications without compromising oncologic outcomes. Surgical techniques change constantly in aim to improve aesthetic results but should most importantly maintain priority to the oncological indications. By multidisciplinary team work with a comprehensive understanding of each discipline, we can preserve the accomplishments of breast surgery in the setting of PMRT, without compromising disease control., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To identify factors associated with (perceived) access to health care among (ex-)breast cancer patients during the COVID-19 pandemic., Methods: Cross-sectional study within a large prospective, multicenter cohort of (ex-)breast cancer patients, i.e., UMBRELLA. All participants enrolled in the UMBRELLA cohort between October 2013 and April 2020 were sent a COVID-19-specific survey, including the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) questionnaire., Results: In total, 1051 (66.0%) participants completed the survey. During COVID-19, 284 (27.0%) participants reported clinically relevant increased levels of anxiety and/or depression, i.e., total HADS score ≥ 12. Participants with anxiety and/or depression reported statistically significant higher barriers to contact their general practitioner (47.5% vs. 25.0%, resp.) and breast cancer physicians (26.8% vs. 11.2%, resp.) compared to participants without these symptoms. In addition, a higher proportion of participants with anxiety and/or depression reported that their current treatment or (after)care was affected by COVID-19 compared to those without these symptoms (32.7% vs. 20.5%, resp.). Factors independently associated with symptoms of anxiety and/or depression during COVID-19 were pre-existent anxiety (OR 6.1, 95% CI 4.1-9.2) or depression (OR 6.0, 95% CI 3.5-10.2)., Conclusion: During the COVID-19 pandemic, (ex-)breast cancer patients with symptoms of anxiety and/or depression experience higher barriers to contact health care providers. Also, they more often report that their health care was affected by COVID-19. Risk factors for anxiety and/or depression during COVID-19 are pre-existent symptoms of anxiety or depression. Extra attention-including mental health support-is needed for this group.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic (officially declared on the March 11, 2020), and the resulting measures, are impacting daily life and medical management of breast cancer patients and survivors. We evaluated to what extent these changes have affected quality of life, physical, and psychosocial well-being of patients previously or currently being treated for breast cancer., Methods: This study was conducted within a prospective, multicenter cohort of breast cancer patients and survivors (Utrecht cohort for Multiple BREast cancer intervention studies and Long-term evaLuAtion). Shortly after the implementation of COVID-19 measures, an extra survey was sent to 1595 participants, including the validated European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) core (C30) and breast cancer-specific (BR23) Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30/BR23) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) questionnaire. Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) were compared with the most recent PROs collected within UMBRELLA pre-COVID-19. The impact of COVID-19 on PROs was assessed using mixed model analysis, adjusting for potential confounders., Results: 1051 patients and survivors (65.9%) completed the survey; 31.1% (n = 327) reported a higher threshold to contact their general practitioner amid the COVID-19 pandemic. A statistically significant deterioration in emotional functioning was observed (mean = 82.6 [SD = 18.7] to 77.9 [SD = 17.3]; P  < .001), and 505 (48.0%, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 45.0% to 51.1%) patients and survivors reported moderate to severe loneliness. Small improvements were observed in quality of life and physical, social, and role functioning. In the subgroup of 51 patients under active treatment, social functioning strongly deteriorated (77.3 [95% CI = 69.4 to 85.2] to 61.3 [95% CI = 52.6 to 70.1]; P  = .002)., Conclusion: During the COVID-19 pandemic, breast cancer patients and survivors were less likely to contact physicians and experienced a deterioration in their emotional functioning. Patients undergoing active treatment reported a substantial drop in social functioning. One in 2 reported loneliness that was moderate or severe. Online interventions supporting mental health and social interaction are needed during times of social distancing and lockdowns., (© The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press.)

Background: Within the field of plastic surgery, free tissue transfer is common practice for knee and lower leg defects. Usually, after such free flap reconstruction, patients undergo a dangling protocol in the postoperative phase. A dangling protocol is designed to gradually subject the free flap to increased venous pressure resulting from gravitational forces. Worldwide there are multiple variations of dangling protocols. However, there is no evidence available in the literature that supports the use of a dangling protocol., Methods: This is a multicenter randomized controlled trial that includes patients with a free flap lower leg reconstruction. The primary outcome is to assess whether a no-dangling protocol is not inferior to a dangling protocol, in terms of proportion of partial flap loss, 6 months after surgery. Secondary objectives are to identify differences in major and minor complications, length of stay, and costs, and to objectify blood gaseous changes during dangling. Furthermore, at 2 years we will assess difference in physical function, infection rates, and osseous union rates., Discussion: The primary outcome of this study will give a more decisive answer to the question of whether a dangling protocol is necessary after a free flap reconstruction of the lower leg. The secondary outcomes of this study will provide a better insight into the physical functions, infection rates, and union rates in these patients., Trial Registration: Central Committee on Research Involving Human Subjects (CCMO), NL63146.041.17. Registered on 11 July 2018. Netherlands Trial Register, NTR7545 . Registered on 10 October 2018.

Aim  This study aims to evaluate the long-term complications, results, and patient satisfaction rates of a dorsally approached ulnar shortening osteotomy for ulnar impaction syndrome. Methods  A retrospective chart review of 20 patients was performed. Primary outcomes of interest were subjective, measured using the Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation (PRWE) score, Disability of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) score, and the third questionnaire about patient satisfaction, composed by the authors. Secondary outcomes included hardware removal due to irritation and other complications. Results  Mean postoperative functional score of PRWE was 28 (standard deviation [SD], 30) and DASH 20 (SD, 26), respectively. Fifteen patients were satisfied with the operation. Removal of hardware was noted in six patients. In one patient plate breakage occurred. Conclusion  Similar postoperative functional scores and complications were seen in patients undergoing an ulnar shortening osteotomy with a dorsally placed plate for ulnar impaction syndrome, compared with other plate placement localizations. The incidence of plate removal is also comparable to previously described results. As the dorsally placed plate and freehand technique, are relatively easy, we feel that it has a place in the treatment of ulnar impaction syndrome. Level of Evidence  Level IV, retrospective cohort study.

Objectives: The prenatal diagnosis of oral clefts (OCs) by ultrasound can pose an ethical dilemma. The purpose of this study was to obtain insight into the psychosocial and moral considerations of prospective parents concerning OCs, the burden of OCs and parents' attitude toward possible termination of pregnancy (TOP) in order to improve counseling in the future., Design: Between August 2011 and August 2014, a prospective cohort questionnaire study was administered., Setting: Prenatal care clinic of the Wilhelmina's Children hospital, a Tertiary Care Centre., Participants: Parents expecting a child with an OC., Main Outcome Measures: Expectation of OCs in general and attitudes toward the impact and expected burden of the OC of their child. Furthermore, parents were asked if they had considered TOP., Results: Most of the parents described an OC as a cosmetic disability (50.6%) or as "just a little different" (29.4%). These parents expected that the OC would not affect their own happiness and have only minor influence on the happiness of their future child. Health professionals had a considerable influence on parental opinion. A minority (6.4%, 5/85) of the respondents considered TOP, and none of the responders chose to terminate the pregnancy., Conclusions: This study suggests that future parents have very few negative perceptions of OC after prenatal counseling. Caregivers should be aware that their counseling is important for decision-making of parents.

Objective: Our aim is to introduce and validate a new oral cleft classification system based on prenatal ultrasound for use by professionals in daily practice., Methods: During a 3-year period (2011-2014), all cases of prenatal oral cleft diagnosed by ultrasound were retrospectively reviewed. A new prenatal ultrasound classification system was introduced. For the purpose of validation, prenatal ultrasound images of oral cleft types were described according to the new classification system and were compared with postnatal findings by reviewing medical records., Results: A total of 103 fetuses with oral cleft were identified by ultrasound. The mean gestation time at detection was 20.4 weeks (95% confidence intervals: 20.0-20.7). The association between oral cleft and other anomalies varied by cleft type; types 2b/3b and 4 were most frequently associated with other anomalies. The measure of agreement between the prenatal and postnatal findings showed a Kappa value of 0.63 (95% confidence intervals: 0.52-0.75), demonstrating the accuracy of this new classification system., Conclusion: A new prenatal oral cleft classification system is presented. This system appears to be accurate, and it shows the variation in the risk of associated anomalies for each cleft type. We expect that ultrasonographers will be able to use the new classification in daily practice., (© 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the opinion of obstetric care providers who perform prenatal ultrasounds to screen for anomalies and who advise women about their options, including termination of pregnancy, when an oral cleft is detected. We compared providers' opinions about pregnancy termination for isolated oral cleft in The Netherlands, where the number of terminations is low, and in Israel, where the number is high., Methods: Online questionnaires were used. The questions assessed the providers' views regarding the estimated burden of treatment, the functioning ability, and the level of happiness of children with an oral cleft and their parents. Additionally, we assessed providers' opinions on pregnancy termination for isolated oral cleft., Results: In The Netherlands, more professionals considered oral cleft a disability (rate differences 17.8%, 95% confidence interval: 0.5-33.1%) than in Israel. In the Netherlands, 10.6% of respondents (compared with 11.1% in Israel) thought that an isolated cleft was a reason for terminations of pregnancy (TOP) (rate differences 0.6%, 95% confidence interval: -12% to 10.9%)., Conclusions: Prenatal care providers in The Netherlands and Israel do not differ in their opinions about the severity of oral cleft and the acceptability of TOP for an isolated oral cleft. This study shows that prenatal care providers' attitudes do therefore not explain the dramatic difference between these countries in the number of TOP for isolated oral cleft., (© 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)