Does elastofibroma dorsi occur more frequently on the same side with the dominant hand?

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Surgical Oncology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Elastofibroma dorsi (EFD) is a rare, benign soft tissue tumor typically found under the scapula.
• The etiology and predisposing factors for EFD remain incompletely understood.
• Investigating potential correlations, such as with dominant hand laterality, may offer insights into EFD development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if there is a correlation between the side of elastofibroma dorsi (EFD) formation and the patient's dominant hand.
• To evaluate the clinical outcomes and patient-reported pain reduction following surgical resection of EFD.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 84 patients diagnosed with EFD between April 2007 and May 2019.
• Data collected included patient demographics, dominant hand, lesion location and size, occupation, and follow-up duration.
• Pre- and postoperative Visual Analog Scale (VAS) pain scores were recorded and analyzed.

Main Results:

• A statistically significant association was found between the side of EFD formation and the patient's dominant hand (p=0.010).
• No significant differences were observed in mass size, age, symptom duration, or complication development based on laterality.
• A significant decrease in VAS pain scores was noted postoperatively (p<0.001), indicating effective pain relief after surgery.

Conclusions:

• Elastofibroma dorsi (EFD) demonstrates a significant predilection for the dominant-hand side in affected patients.
• Surgical resection of EFD is associated with favorable clinical outcomes and significant pain reduction.
• Further research may explore the biomechanical or functional factors contributing to EFD development on the dominant side.