The International Awareness of Breast Reconstruction.

Background: To our knowledge, this is the first and largest study conducted to collect data among surgeons worldwide about breast reconstruction. We have aimed to collect data about breast reconstruction worldwide, the most popular breast reconstruction techniques, and the barriers behind the low rate of breast reconstruction according to surgeons. Methodology: A comparative cross-sectional design was used in this study. A prepared questionnaire, which was developed after reviewing the literature review conducted for this study, was used to collect data. The questionnaire is multiple choice. It was distributed among surgeons online. Results: The study includes 812 participants who live all over the world, representing 79 countries. More than a third of surgeons perform less than 10 breast reconstructions per year (33.38%), and 45.86% of them think that immediate surgery is the most frequent practice. A higher percentage of participants prefer implants over autologous reconstruction as a technique for breast reconstruction (54.9%). Moreover, 39.02% of participants shared that a lack of knowledge about the availability of breast reconstruction was a reason for refusing the surgery. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that the breast reconstruction rate is still low and that most surgeons prefer implants that are performed immediately. The lack of knowledge among patients about the availability of breast reconstruction is the most common reason for refusing reconstruction. Therefore, there is a need to increase patient awareness about the availability of this surgery.

Radial nerve palsy in the newborn: a case series.

BACKGROUND: Peripheral nerve palsies of the upper extremities presenting at birth can be distressing for families and care providers. It is therefore important to be able to identify patients whose diagnosis is compatible with full recovery so that their families can be reassured. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of all infants presenting with weakness of the upper extremity to our clinic between July 1995 and September 2009. We also conducted a review of the current literature. RESULTS: During the study period, 953 infants presented to our clinic. Of these patients, 25 were identified as having isolated radial nerve palsy (i.e., a radial nerve palsy in isolation with good shoulder function and intact flexion of the elbow). Seventeen infants (68.0%) had a subcutaneous nodule representing fat necrosis in the inferior posterolateral portion of the affected arm. Full recovery occurred in all patients within a range of one week to six months, and 72.0% of the patients (18/25) had fully recovered by the time they were two months old. INTERPRETATION: Although the outcome of obstetrical brachial plexus palsy is highly variable, isolated radial nerve palsy in the newborn carries a uniformly favourable prognosis.