Using a Digital Implant Catalog Improves Data Quality and Reduces Administrative Burden in the Dutch Breast Implant Registry

Aesthetic Surgery Journal, vol. 42, pp. NP275–NP281

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Correct registration of implant characteristics is essential to monitor implant safety within implant registries. Currently, in the nationwide Dutch Breast Implant Registry (DBIR), these characteristics are being registered manually by plastic surgeons, resulting in administrative burden and potentially incorrect data entry. OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the accuracy of manually registered implant data, possible consequences of incorrect data, and the potential of a Digital Implant Catalog (DIC) on increasing data quality and reducing the administrative burden. METHODS: Manually entered implant characteristics (fill, shape, coating, texture) of newly inserted breast implants in the DBIR, from 2015 to 2019, were compared with the corresponding implant characteristics in the DIC. Reference numbers were employed to match characteristics between the 2 databases. The DIC was based on manufacturers' product catalogs and set as the gold standard. RESULTS: A total of 57,361 DBIR records could be matched with the DIC. Accuracy of implant characteristics varied from 70.6% to 98.0%, depending on the implant characteristic. The largest discrepancy was observed for "texture" and the smallest for "coating." All manually registered implant characteristics resulted in different conclusions about implant performance compared with the DIC (P < 0.01). Implementation of the DIC reduced the administrative burden from 14 to 7 variables (50%). CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of a DIC increases data quality in the DBIR and reduces the administrative burden. However, correct registration of reference numbers in the registry by plastic surgeons remains key for adequate matching. Furthermore, all implant manufacturers should be involved, and regular updates of the DIC are required.

Authors 9

1. Nariman Barati Aachen Dutch Breast Implant Registry Dutch Institute for Clinical Auditing

   Dutch Institute for Clinical Auditing

   Affiliation as printed

   Dutch Breast Implant Registry, Dutch Institute for Clinical Auditing , Leiden , the Netherlands

2. J. Juliët Vrolijk

   Maastricht University Medical Centre · Maastricht University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Center Grow , Maastricht , the Netherlands

3. Babette E. Becherer

   Erasmus MC · Erasmus MC Cancer Institute

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, University Medical Center Rotterdam , Rotterdam , the Netherlands

4. Annelotte C. M. van Bommel

   University Medical Center Utrecht

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, University Medical Center Utrecht , Utrecht , the Netherlands

5. Juliëtte E. Hommes

   Maastricht University Medical Centre · Maastricht University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Center+ , Maastricht , the Netherlands

6. Marc A.M. Mureau

   Erasmus MC · Erasmus MC Cancer Institute

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, University Medical Center Rotterdam , Rotterdam , the Netherlands

7. René R. J. W. van der Hulst

   Maastricht University Medical Centre · Maastricht University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Center Grow , Maastricht , the Netherlands

8. Danny A. Young‐Afat

   Amsterdam University Medical Centers

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Amsterdam University Medical Center , Amsterdam , the Netherlands

9. Hinne A. Rakhorst corresponding

   Medisch Spectrum Twente

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Medisch Spectrum Twente , Enschede , the Netherlands