Lipectomy for madelung disease using tumescent technique: a cross-sectional study

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Dermatology
• Surgical Oncology

Background:

• Madelung disease is a rare, disfiguring disorder affecting the head, neck, shoulders, and arms.
• It impacts both function and aesthetic appearance, often necessitating lipectomy.
• Lipectomy for Madelung disease can be challenging due to large tumor size and proximity to vital structures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of tumescent solution in lipectomy for Madelung disease in the head-and-neck region.
• To assess the dual benefits of tissue removal and improved surgical conditions.
• To determine the safety and utility of this technique.

Main Methods:

• A prospective study involving 17 patients undergoing 26 head-and-neck lipectomies.
• Tumescent solution was injected prior to skin incision.
• Data collected included tumescent volume, operative field clarity, blood loss, fat weight removed, and complications.

Main Results:

• Surgery was bloodless in 38.5% of cases and had minimal bleeding in 46.1%.
• Average fat removed was 582.9g, with an average surgical time of 175.6 minutes.
• Early complications occurred in 15.4% of patients (hematoma, skin necrosis, seroma).

Conclusions:

• Tumescent-assisted lipectomy is a safe, simple, and useful technique for Madelung disease in the head and neck.
• The method facilitates a cleaner operative field and reduces bleeding.
• This approach aids surgeons in managing this challenging condition effectively.