Does Incision Location Matter? Analysis of Single-Port Cosmesis in Urologic Reconstructive Surgery

Introduction and Objective: One potential advantage of single-port (SP) robotic surgery compared with multiport (MP) robotic surgery is improved cosmesis. The only studies in urology patients to suggest this finding did not assess differences based on incision site. Our study evaluated SP, MP, incision location, age, gender, and prior abdominal surgery as predictors of cosmesis and scar consciousness for reconstructive procedures. Methods: This is a cohort study using an institutional review board-approved prospective genitourinary reconstruction database. Patients at least 3 months from surgery were emailed and called to complete the Consciousness subsection of the Patient Scar Assessment Questionnaire. Bothersome was defined as a score of 11 or greater. Overall consciousness was scored with a single item as "not conscious" or "conscious." Pearson's chi-squared, Wilcoxon rank sum, Fisher's exact test, and logistic regression were performed to assess how age, gender, prior surgery, and incision location affect cosmesis. Results: There were 111 patients (54 MP, 57 SP), of which 27 were SP umbilical, 14 were SP midline nonumbilical, and 16 were SP lower quadrant. On univariate analysis the periumbilical incision had the lowest consciousness. Age was associated with Bother (p = 0.012) and Consciousness (p = 0.002), whereas gender, prior abdominal surgery, and incision site were not significant. On logistic regression, all SP incisions were less likely to be bothered compared with MP, although only SP umbilical was statistically significant (odds ratio [OR] = 0.08, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.01,0.38; p = 0.005). Age was also significant on logistic regression for Bother (OR = 0.96, 95% CI: 0.93,0.99; p = 0.005). Gender and prior abdominal surgery were not associated with Bother or Consciousness. Conclusions: SP periumbilical incisions provide the best outcomes for cosmesis compared with other SP incision sites and MP incisions. This finding should be discussed and taken into account when planning surgical approaches for patients undergoing urinary reconstruction, especially in patients younger than 40 years of age.