BAPRAS-Supported Research

Listed below are the research projects and bodies that BAPRAS is, or has been involved with or supports

Please see the documents below for information regarding endorsement:

Commissioned Calls

BAPRAS Endorsement Policy and form available here

Researcher led Calls

BAPRAS Endorsement Policy and form available here

What is the RSTN?

The Reconstructive Surgery Trials Network is a national research network that aims to develop multi-centre studies in hand surgery and plastic surgery. It was established with funding from the British Society for Surgery of the Hand (BSSH) and the British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (BAPRAS) and is part of the Royal College of Surgeons Clinical Trials Initiative.

Why does this matter?

The evidence base in hand surgery is often of low quality. Historically may studies have been retrospective and single centre. Because we tend to have similar structures to services, the NHS can quickly and efficiently generate very large datasets compared to other centres and countries.

Who is the RSTN for?

Anybody from medical student to consultant can join the RSTN via the website (rstn.uk). We are particularly keen to encourage orthopaedic trainees with an interest in hand surgery to engage.

What can contributors get out of the RSTN?

If you want to lead a study that you have conceived: the RSTN will support this.
If you want less involvement: contributing to multi-centre data collection as a collaborator can be an effective way to get recognition and in some instances, citable authorship on national and international presentations and publications.
For more involvement: stand for election to the RSTN’s national committee.

How does authorship work?

The terms of authorship are defined by each project at the outset. The RSTN follows the ICMJE guidance on authorship for collaborative studies. Usually the steering group will be Pubmed cited authors and take responsibility for the manuscript. Collaborators hitting pre-agreed targets (e.g. recruiting a certain number of patients) will be Pubmed cited. Collaborators not meeting the criteria will be acknowledged but will not be Pubmed cited.

Further information on the network, and ongoing research trials can be found at the following link: http://reconstructivesurgerytrials.net/

The Scar Free Foundation

BAPRAS (formerly as the British Association of Plastic Surgeons) helped establish The Healing Foundation in 1999 as a charitable organisation and it remains on the Board of Trustees. In 2016, the Healing Foundation became the Scar Free Foundation

The Scar Free Foundation has a large research focus that is multidisciplinary but that covers areas of patient health that relate to plastic surgery: Scarless healing, tissue regeneration, stem cells, psychological well being and patient information. For more information on the Foundation, visit their website

The National Mastectomy and Breast Reconstruction Audit

A national audit of provision and outcomes of mastectomy and breast reconstruction surgery for women in England and Wales was undertaken from 2008 to 2011.

The National Mastectomy and Breast Reconstruction Audit was commissioned and funded by the Healthcare Commission to assess and improve the quality of care provided to women with breast cancer undergoing mastectomy and breast reconstruction surgery. The audit evaluated the care process and measure treatment outcomes for these women.

What were the aims of the audit?
The audit:
• Described provision of and access to breast reconstruction in England and Wales
• Evaluated current clinical practice in mastectomy and breast reconstruction
• Measured outcomes following mastectomy with or without reconstruction
• Assessed the quality of information provided to women undergoing mastectomy and their satisfaction with the reconstructive choices made.

Who carried out the audit?
The audit was conducted by a team of specialist clinicians and auditors from:
• The Association of Breast Surgery
• The British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons
• The Royal College of Nursing
• The National Clinical Audit Support Programme (NCASP) of The Information Centre for health and social care
• The Clinical Effectiveness Unit of The Royal College of Surgeons of England and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

The National Mastectomy and Breast Reconstruction Audit produced four annual reports. The reports are available from NHS Digital.

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