Delay between expansion and expander/implant exchange in breast reconstruction--a prospective study.
It has been suggested that delay between expansion and insertion of the definitive prosthesis in breast reconstruction reduces the incidence of adverse capsular contracture. We have carried out a prospective trial to examine this hypothesis. 65 patients were randomly allocated into two groups; in one, insertion of the definitive prosthesis was 2 weeks following expansion ("immediate") and in the other, 6 months ("delayed"). The incidence of adverse capsular contracture assessed both by the Baker Scale and a linear analogue scale showed no difference between the two groups. A new objective method for measuring ptosis using a specially designed template is described. The degree of ptosis was not affected by the delay.
Foo
I T
IT
Plastic Surgery and Burns Research Unit, University of Bradford.
Coleman
D J
DJ
Holmes
J D
JD
Palmer
J H
JH
Sharpe
D T
DT
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016462:Mammaplasty / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D013997:Time Factors; D015626:Tissue Expansion; D015625:Tissue Expansion Devices