ABSTRACT
STUDY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the aesthetic benefit of lumboscopy versus lumbotomy in a group of patients undergoing pyeloplasty. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A telephone survey was conducted in 103 people operated by pyeloplasty via lumboscopy or lumbotomy. The questions concerned the appearance of the scar (size, relief; visible or invisible), skin complications, satisfaction with the scar, postoperative pain, length of hospital stay and return to physical activity or work. RESULTS: The response rate was 58.2% corresponding to 32 lumboscopies and 29 lumbotomies. Lumboscopy scars were shorter (2.7 vs 15.6 cm for lumbotomies, p<0.001). Lumbotomy scars were palpable in 75% of cases versus 53.1% of lumboscopy scars of (p=0.037). Almost 96.5% of lumbotomy scars were visible versus only 68.7% of lumboscopy scars (p=0.0057). Lumbotomies were complicated by incisional hernia in 14.2% of cases, while no incisional hernias were observed in the lumboscopy group (p=0.02). 85% of patients were satisfied with their scars in the lumboscopy group versus 56% of patients operated by lumbotomy (p=0.0286). CONCLUSION: This study showed a statistically significant difference in terms of a purely aesthetic benefit and scar solidity in favour of lumboscopy, which supports the growing place of this surgical technique in urology.