Evaluation of cutaneous abdominal wall sensibility after abdominoplasty

Abstract

Changes in cutaneous sensibility are common after diverse plastic surgical procedures. Although prior studies examined aesthetic results, combined procedures, and new abdominoplasty techniques, few examined the effect of undermining on cutaneous sensibility. This study aimed to analyze and quantify cutaneous sensibility after classic abdominoplasty. Two groups of patients were studied: a control group of 10 patients without surgery and another group of 25 patients who had undergone classic abdominoplasty. The abdominal wall surface was divided into nine regions. Pain sensibility was evaluated by tests with needles, and thermal sensibility by test tubes containing hot and cold water. Superficial tactile sensibility was tested using the Pressure-Specified Sensory Device (PSSD), which is capable of determining the cutaneous pressure threshold. Statistical analysis was conducted using Student's 't-test'. The results showed a decrease in the three types of sensibility. Statistical analysis showed a significant difference (p < 0.05) between the groups for all regions tested. The centermost regions of the abdominal wall presented the highest index of analgesia and thermal anesthesia, as well as higher cutaneous pressure thresholds.