Morbidity after mastectomy and immediate autologous reconstruction

Purpose: In this study we compared the morbidity of breast-conserving surgery with mastectomy and immediate autologous reconstruction. To examine the restriction in movement and muscle strength after pedicled flap breast reconstruction, the patients underwent tests of function. Material and Methods: We followed up 144 patients with breast cancer in the period 2002-2004. Sixty-seven of them underwent breast-conserving surgery and 77 had mastectomy with immediate autologous reconstruction. To assess the impact of the muscular defect after pedicled flap reconstruction we performed functional tests of the donor area. Results: We were able to show that latissimus dorsi flap and transversus rectus abdominis flap are secure surgical procedures. We had no flap loss. There was only a slight restriction in movement in the donor area in 15% of the patients. There were no restrictions with regard to everyday life. Conclusion: Pedicled flap techniques are secure procedures for breast reconstruction (no flap loss) with low morbidity and do not affect patients in their everyday life. Microvascular flaps have to be measured against this standard.