title: Body Posture After Mastectomy: Comparison Between Immediate Breast Reconstruction Versus Mastectomy Alone.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Immediate breast reconstruction has been increasingly incorporated as part of breast cancer treatment, especially for the psychological benefits. Currently, there are many options for breast reconstruction surgery, but the impact of the different techniques on body posture has not been widely studied. One study demonstrated that immediate breast reconstruction with a Beker-25 prosthesis could help to preserve body posture after mastectomy; however, there is no evidence regarding the effect of surgery on the body posture of women after breast reconstruction when using autologous tissue.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this paper is to compare the body postures of women who underwent immediate breast reconstruction using an abdominal flap with those of women who underwent mastectomy alone.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-six women diagnosed with breast cancer underwent mastectomy, between 1 and 5 years after the diagnosis, are the participants of the study. Two groups were defined: women who underwent mastectomy and immediate breast reconstruction (n = 38) and women who underwent mastectomy alone (n = 38).
  
  
  METHODS
  To assess body posture, specific anatomical points for obtaining photographs were located and marked in anterior, posterior and right-side and left-side views. The photographs were analysed using Postural Analysis Software/Software de Análise Postural (PAS/SAPO).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the left lateral view, there was a significant difference in the vertical alignment of the trunk (4.2 vs 3.1; p = 0.05). There were no significant differences between the two groups for the variables in the anterior, posterior or right-side views.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Women who underwent mastectomy alone, compared with women who underwent immediate breast reconstruction with abdominal flaps, showed differences in the vertical alignment of the trunk, with greater asymmetry between the acromion and greater trochanter, which can mean trunk rotation. No significant differences were found between the two groups in the alignment of the head, shoulders, scapula, or pelvis. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy Speech and Occupational Therapy, Medical School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Carolina
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Atanes Mendes Peres
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria do Rosário
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Dias de Oliveira Latorre
authors.affiliation: Mastology Service, Department of Gynecology, Medical School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yugo Maesaka
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology, Medical School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: José Roberto
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Filassi
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology, Medical School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Edmund
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chada Baracat
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, Speech Therapy and Occupational Therapy, Medical School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Alves Gonçalves Ferreira
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016462:Mammaplasty / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008408:Mastectomy / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011187:Posture; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: breast neoplasms; breast reconstruction; mastectomy; posture