Abdominal wall neuroma pain after breast reconstruction with a transverse abdominal musculocutaneous flap - Cause and treatment

Breast reconstruction with either a pedicled or microvascular transfer of the transverse rectus abdominus musculocutaneous flap, whether with or without the muscle, is now the standard of care when patients choose an autologous form of reconstruction. Complications related to flap loss and abdominal wall weakness have been well described. Complications related to painful neuromas of the intercostal nerves, ilioinguinal and iliohypogastric nerves have not been described previously. The diagnosis and treatment of pain related to neuromas of the abdominal wall is discussed in this paper.