Technical Refinements and Outcomes Assessment in Prepectoral Pocket Conversion After Postmastectomy Radiotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Several studies show how submuscular breast reconstruction is linked to animation deformity, shoulder dysfunction, and increased postoperative chest pain, when compared to prepectoral breast reconstruction. In solving all these life-impairing side effects, prepectoral implant pocket conversion has shown encouraging results. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to propose a refinement of the prepectoral implant pocket conversion applied to previously irradiated patients. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study on 42 patients who underwent previous nipple- or skin-sparing mastectomy and immediate submuscular reconstruction, followed by radiotherapy. We performed fat grafting sessions as regenerative pretreatment. Six months after the last fat graft, we performed the conversion, with prepectoral placement of micropolyurethane foam-coated implants. We investigated the preconversion and postconversion differences in upper limb range of motion, Upper Extremity Functional Index, and patient satisfaction with the breast and physical well-being of the chest. RESULTS: We reported a resolution of animation deformity in 100% of cases. The range of motion and the Upper Extremity Functional Index scores were statistically improved after prepectoral implant pocket conversion. BREAST-Q scores for satisfaction with the breast and physical well-being of the chest were also improved. CONCLUSIONS: The refined prepectoral implant pocket conversion is a reliable technique for solving animation deformity and improving quality of life in patients previously treated with submuscular reconstruction and radiotherapy.

A rare case of radiation-induced breast angiosarcoma: a case report.

We describe a rare case of a 77-year-old woman with radiation-induced breast angiosarcoma (RIAS) in whom radical surgery with negative margins determined that at 14-month of follow-up there is no evidence of either local or systemic recurrence without having to resort to adjuvant chemotherapy.

Prevention of Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema: An Up-to-Date Systematic Review of Different Surgical Approaches.

Breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) affects approximately 20% of women after breast cancer therapy. Advances in treatment have increased the life expectancy; thus, the prevalence of BCRL will continue to rise with the number of cancer survivors, hence the need to develop strategies to prevent this condition. We provide a systematic review of the literature on the primary prevention of BCRL by prophylactic lymphatic surgery (PLS). Between June and August 2022, we conducted a search of PubMed, Google Scholar and Cochrane. In the end, a total of eighteen papers were selected. The eleven studies without a control group reported only 15 of 342 patients who developed lymphedema at least six months after PLS (4.59%). The seven studies with a control group included 569 patients, 328 cases and 241 controls. Among the cases, 36 (10%) developed lymphedema. In contrast, the incidence of lymphedema in the controls was 40% (98 of 241 patients). The formulation of definite recommendations in favor of PLS is hindered by low-quality studies. There is no consensus on which technique should be preferred, nor on whether adjuvant radiotherapy might affect the efficacy of PLS. Randomized controlled trials are mandatory to conceive evidence-based recommendations.

Comparative evaluation using PRO of an algorithm of one-stage immediate alloplastic breast reconstruction versus two-stage reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: One-stage direct-to-implant (DTI) immediate breast reconstruction has proven to be an oncologically safe technique, but there are some conditions that do not allow its performance. The introduction of new surgical techniques and the recent COVID-19 pandemic have pushed us to introduce a breast reconstruction algorithm in our clinical practice. This allows a one-stage immediate reconstruction for all patients, regardless of their anatomical characteristics, the type of implants used, and the need for postoperative radiotherapy. METHODS: A total of 40 patients were recruited and divided into two cohorts, 20 patients underwent immediate one-stage breast reconstruction in the period between October 2019 and January 2021, and 20 patients completed the two-stage reconstructive process in the period prior to October 2019. During the follow-up at 6 months, all patients who had completed the reconstructive process filled out the Breast-Q Reconstruction Module Pre and Postoperative scales questionnaire. The outcomes of the questionnaires were compared between the two cohorts, and statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS Statistics 20 (IBM Corporation, Armonk, NY, USA). RESULTS: The analysis of patient-reported outcomes showed that patients from the one-stage group reported better outcomes in all items evaluated. We did not find statistically significant differences concerning the rate of complications and length of hospital stay between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: The analysis of the results shows that the outcomes reported by patients who completed breast reconstruction according to our algorithm are statistically better than those with the two-stage technique.

Use of Radiofrequency-Assisted Liposuction (BodyTite) for Upper Arms Lifting.

BACKGROUND: Body contouring surgery is increasingly requested by patients, both for aesthetic and post-bariatric purposes. There has also been a rapid increase in demand for noninvasive aesthetic treatments. While brachioplasty is burdened by numerous complications and unsatisfactory scars, and conventional liposuction is unsuitable for all patients, nonsurgical arm remodeling performed with radiofrequency-assisted liposuction (RFAL) allows to effectively treat most of patients, regardless of the amount of fat and ptosis of the skin and avoiding surgical excision. METHODS: A prospective study was conducted on 120 consecutive patients who presented to the author's private clinic and required upper arm remodeling surgery for aesthetic purposes or after weight loss. Patients were classified according to the modified classification of El Khatib and Teimourian. Pre- and posttreatment upper arm circumferences were taken after 6 months of follow-up to assess the degree of skin retraction obtained by treating the arm with RFAL. A satisfaction questionnaire regarding the appearance of the arms (Body-Q upper arm satisfaction) was administered to all patients before surgery and after 6 months of follow-up. RESULTS: All patients were effectively treated with RFAL, and no cases required conversion to brachioplasty. The average reduction in arm circumference was 3.75 cm at 6 months follow-up, and patients' satisfaction increased from 35 to 87% posttreatment. CONCLUSIONS: Radio frequency is a valid tool to treat most patients with upper limbs skin laxity, with significant aesthetic results and a high degree of patient satisfaction, regardless of the degree of skin ptosis and lipodystrophy of the arm. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these evidence-based medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Heel reconstruction with ALT free flap in a 4-year-old patient after a severe lawnmower injury. A case report.

Lawnmowers represent a danger in pediatric population. Frequently, traumas involve limbs. Among the different reconstructive techniques, a free flap is often needed. We discuss the first case of heel reconstruction with an anterolateral thigh flap in a 4-years-old patient after a lawnmower's trauma.

Hybrid breast augmentation: our surgical approach and formula for preoperative assessment of fat graft volume.

Background: Autogenous fat grafting (AFG) is a well-known procedure utilized in addition to breast augmentation (BA) to improve breast appearance. Plastic surgeons usually estimate the ideal AFG volume relying on their personal experience based on similar previous cases: inaccurate predictions could result in incorrect evaluation of donor sites and even needless fat transfer. The purpose of this paper is to describe and prove the validity of our surgical technique and provide a simple and easy-to-use mathematical formula to assess the adequate proportion, between the volume of the implants and of the AFG, in order to obtain a natural shape and a proper volume in BA. Methods: One hundred and twenty-two patients (244 breasts) were subjected to primary/secondary hybrid BA (HBA). A formula was utilized to assess the volume of fat graft. Data about their age, body mass index (BMI), incision and implants were collected. Follow-up for analysis was fixed at less than 15 days, 1, 3, 6 and 12 months for analysis. Preoperative photographs were compared with postoperative at 12 months. Pre and postoperative Breast-Q© were administered to every patient. A statistical analysis was performed comparing Breast-Q© preoperative means with postoperative ones through t-student test. We globally defined the patients as follows: "very dissatisfied" if total score 0-25; "somewhat dissatisfied", score 26-50; "somewhat satisfied", score 51-75; "very satisfied", score 76-100. Results: All patients received Ergonomix-style Motiva Smooth/SilkSurface with low/high projection (range, 120-225 mL, mean 170 mL) and an average AFG volume of 600 mL (range, 480-720 mL). Breast-Q© analysis showed a statistically significant difference between preoperative and postoperative modules; 122 (100%) patients were "very satisfied". Thirteen cases of complications presented in 12 patients (10.65%): 5 hypertrophic scarring (4.09%), 3 wound dehiscence (2.46%), 3 hematomas (2.46%), 1 seroma (0.82%), 1 fat necrosis (0.82%). Conclusions: Our surgical technique proves low complication rate and short recovery times. Our mathematical formula to calculate the AFG seems to be both predictive and a precise guide for surgical decision-making in planning the treatment of patients candidated for HBA. In fact, the analysis of Breast-Q© questionnaires shows a high grade of satisfaction among patients. Further investigations should be performed in order to study a wider population and different type of implants.

Iatrogenic subcutaneous emphysema in aesthetic breast augmentation Medicolegal aspects.

The aim of the present study was to investigate clinical results and medico-legal aspects related to the surgical procedure of mini breast augmentation. In the present case, a 28-year-old young woman with bilateral mammary hypoplasia underwent surgery, under local anesthesia, with the placement of 150 cc breast implants in the sub-glandular plane. We report a case of dramatic isolated subcutaneous emphysema without pneumothorax and pneumomediastinum to be related in terms of a causal link to the surgical procedure which the patient underwent. The plastic surgeon proceeded to replace a breast implant that presumably, represented the vehicle of transmission of the suspected pathogen responsible for the infection, to become a causal role for the infectious manifestation. This case report is an emblematic example of the need for a careful and correct surgical procedure, in order to avoid serious consequences as in the case in question, burdened by the occurrence of unsafe conditions for the patient. Compliance with the guidelines and the technical datasheet of breast implants is essential in order to avoid the concrete hypothesis of professional liability. KEY WORDS: Aesthetic breast augmentation, Breast implant, Iatrogenic subcutaneous emphysema.

Complications after breast augmentation with hyaluronic acid: a case report.

Breast augmentation is a very requested procedure in aesthetic surgery. Over time, various techniques of breast augmentation have been described, both through the use of alloplastic materials and autologous tissues: implants, fat grafting, flap surgery, and injectable fillers. According to the international current trend to perform minimally invasive procedure, injectable fillers have progressively increased their uses and notoriety in aesthetic medicine. Among the various available products, hyaluronic acid is likely to be the most popular synthetic filler all over the world. Nowadays many brands are on the market and this paper focuses on Macrolane which is a NASHA-based (stabilized hyaluronic acid of non-animal origin) filler. However, although highly biocompatible, as any material, foreign to our body, also hyaluronic acid fillers undergo a process of degradation and disposal. In our work, we report the first case in literature of migration of Macrolane in an axillary lymph node in a 45-year-old woman three years after injection for breast augmentation and its related management. The aim of the paper is to discuss and underline further complications and their treatment besides the ones already described in literature in order to provide a deeper knowledge concerning the use and the side effects of injectable fillers in aesthetic medicine.