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J Reconstr Microsurg 2015; 31(02): 139-144
DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1390246
Original Article
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Impact of Personality Traits on Choice and Perceptions of Autologous Breast Reconstruction

Anaeze C. Offodile II
1   Department of Plastic Surgery, Lahey Hospital and Medical Center, Burlington, Massachusetts
,
Holly Prigerson
2   Center for Psychosocial Epidemiology and Outcomes Research, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
,
Randall O. Craft
3   Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center, Gilbert, Arizona
,
Allen Liu
4   Arizona Center for Hand Surgery, Phoenix, Arizona
,
Lifei Guo
1   Department of Plastic Surgery, Lahey Hospital and Medical Center, Burlington, Massachusetts
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

22 May 2014

31 July 2014

Publication Date:
31 October 2014 (online)

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Abstract

Background There is little data examining the psychosocial characteristics of women who choose a type of autologous postmastectomy reconstruction. This study sought to investigate the role of personality on decision making and postoperative satisfaction in autologous breast reconstruction.

Patients and Methods  A retrospective survey of 120 consecutive patients who had undergone transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (TRAM) or perforator flap (PF) reconstruction over a 4-year period by a single surgeon at a single academic institution. All patients underwent similar preoperative consultations and were categorized into one of four groups based on surgical procedure they chose and their PF candidacy as determined by body mass index, age, and laterality. The survey packet included three validated measures of personality indices and a quality-of-life questionnaire. Intergroup analysis was performed using the Wilcoxon rank sum test.

Results The overall survey response rate was 52.5%. PF patients were younger (p = 0.007) and more likely to undergo bilateral reconstruction (p = 0.0009) relative to TRAM patients. Comparisons between the two most clinically extreme groups showed significant results with regard to personality testing. Patients who were deemed not ideal PF candidates but nevertheless chose PF reconstruction were shown to be more narcissistic (p = 0.033), extroverted (p = 0.024), and having a higher postoperative quality of life (p = 0.021) than those who were deemed ideal PF candidates but ended up choosing pedicled TRAM reconstruction.

Conclusion Specific personality traits play a role in the patients' choice of a reconstructive option and their overall postoperative satisfaction. Clinicians should be aware of the possible influence of personality type on surgery selection.

Keywords

personality - perforator flaps - quality of life - outcomes
 

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