A comparison of outcomes using three different methods of breast reconstruction.

In a review of 325 postmastectomy breast reconstructions, the aesthetic quality of the result and the risk of unsuccessful outcome were compared for three techniques: tissue expansion (105 breasts), latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap (47 breasts), and TRAM flap (173 breasts). The aesthetic successes achievable with the three methods were similar, and some excellent results were achieved with each of them. The failure rate after tissue expansion (21 percent) was significantly higher than those observed with the TRAM (3 percent) and latissimus (9 percent) flaps. Tissue expansion also was not as aesthetically successful as other techniques in obese patients. For immediate breast reconstruction, the TRAM flap was the most aesthetically successful technique. Although tissue expansion has advantages and may be the best choice for some patients, methods that used autogenous tissue provided more consistent success.