OUTCOME AUDIT IN PLASTIC-SURGERY - THE CAMBRIDGE CLASSIFICATION

Plastic Surgery Outcome Audit has until now been limited to studies of individual conditions. The Department of Plastic Surgery at Addenbroo ke's Hospital, Cambridge, has developed an objective outcome classific ation applicable to all plastic surgery procedures. The four end-resul t categories - aesthetic appearance; physical function; tumour clearan ce; and surgical complications - are each graded in clear stages from 1 (excellent result) to 4 (result requiring re-operation) in a system which is easy to apply to every patient. The development and potential use of this classification are discussed. The Cambridge Classificatio n is used in conjunction with diagnostic codes, which can be simple li ke the Logbook codes used by British Trainees or more complex, such as Read codes.