## 12 Patient Satisfaction  
In total, 178 (59.1%) out of the 301 patients responded to the patient satisfaction questionnaires. It should be noted that these questionnaires were evaluated up to 8 years after surgery. All procedures were clinically indicated and based on objective abnormalities; none were performed for purely cosmetic reasons. In retrospect, the patients often had a different opinion about the reason for their surgery. In total, 17 patients (9.6%) felt very little affected by their percus deformity preoperatively, 103 (57.9%) felt slightly or moderately affected, and 55 (30.9%) felt severely or very severely affected. Regarding the reason for surgery, 51 patients (28.7%) reported functional limitations, 13 (7.3%) reported psychological disturbance, and 18 (10.1%) reported mainly aesthetic reasons. The remaining patients reported a combination of these reasons.  
\begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{l l} \hline \hline \multicolumn{2}{l}{Drainage} \\ \hline \multicolumn{2}{l}{Chest drains} \\ \hline \multicolumn{2}{l}{0} & 3 patients (0.4\%) \\ \hline \multicolumn{2}{l}{1} & 297 patients (99.3\%) \\ \hline \multicolumn{2}{l}{2} & 1 patients (0.3\%) \\ \hline \multicolumn{2}{l}{Redon drains} \\ \hline \multicolumn{2}{l}{1} & 9 patients (3.0\%) \\ \hline \multicolumn{2}{l}{2} & 292 patients (97.0\%) \\ \hline \multicolumn{2}{l}{Complications} \\ \hline \multicolumn{2}{l}{Pneumothorax} & 54 patients (17.9\%) \\ \hline \multicolumn{2}{l}{Drainage} & 5 patients (1.7\%) \\ \hline \multicolumn{2}{l}{Pleural effusion} & 51 patients (17.0\%) \\ \hline \multicolumn{2}{l}{Drainage} & 9 patients (3.0\%) \\ \hline \multicolumn{2}{l}{Aspiration} & 6 patients (2.0\%) \\ \hline \multicolumn{2}{l}{Wound healing} \\ \hline \multicolumn{2}{l}{Normal} & 182 patients (62.1\%) \\ \hline \multicolumn{2}{l}{Redness} & 72 patients (25.9\%) \\ \hline \multicolumn{2}{l}{Swelling} & 9 patients (3.1\%) \\ \hline \multicolumn{2}{l}{Secretion} & 8 patients (2.7\%) \\ \hline \multicolumn{2}{l}{Dehiscence} & 2 patients (0.7\%) \\ \hline \multicolumn{2}{l}{Mobilization} & 3 \(\pm\) 0.6 days after surgery (3–7 days) \\ \hline \multicolumn{2}{l}{Length of hospitalization} & 9 \(\pm\) 1.7 days after surgery (5–21 days) \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table}
Table 3: Post-operative course.  
The length of the hospital stay was considered adequate by 158 patients (88.8%), too long by 12 (6.7%), and too short by 7 (3.9%). Postoperative pain was rated absent to moderate by 120 patients (67.4%) and severe to very severe by 58 patients (32.6%). Postoperative analgesia was considered adequate in 155 patients (87.1%) and inadequate in 21 (11.8%). A peridural catheter was placed as standard and was removed on average on Day 4 (SD 1.2 d, range 2-11 d). No pain after discharge from the hospital was reported by 7 patients (3.9%). Pain during the first month was reported by 130 patients (73%), of whom 23 (12.9%) rated it severe or very severe and 31 patients (17.4%) still had pain more than 4 weeks after discharge.  
In total, 17 patients (9.6%) reported no pain limiting their daily activities, 129 (72.5%) during the first 4 months, and 14 (7.9%) patients reported pain for more than 4 months. Regarding their postoperative appearance, 115 patients (64.6%) were satisfied or very satisfied and 57 (32.0%) were dissatisfied. The most common reason for dissatisfaction was the surgical scar. When asked if they would be willing to undergo another surgery, 135 patients (75.8%) answered yes, while 32 (18.0%) ruled out another surgery.