NCT06504173

Diced Cartilage in Breast Reconstruction

Use of Diced Cartilage for Management of Internal Mammary Vessel Exposure Sites in Autologous Breast Reconstruction

• Status: Completed
• Phase: —
• Study type: Observational
• Enrollment: 173 (actual)
• Sponsor: ISAR Klinikum · Academic / Other
• Sex: Female
• Age: 18 Years – 99 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

Exposure of internal mammary vessels in autologous breast reconstruction often requires removal of a rib cartilage segment, which can lead to contour deformity in the craniomedial breast pole. This study evaluated the use of diced cartilage (DC) to counteract substance loss in the microvascular anastomosis area, and investigated safety and suitability of the procedure to avoid postoperative deformities.

Detailed description

This retrospective, single-center cohort study included all breast reconstructions in which DC was used from October 2021 to June 2023. Reconstructions using DC were subdivided based on previous exposure to breast radiotherapy (DC vs. DCR). The control group consisted of an equal number of consecutive reconstructions performed prior to the use of DC. The effect of DC on breast contour preservation was investigated using breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI; \> 6 months post-op) and photographic documentation (6-month follow-up).

Conditions

• Mammaplasty
• Microsurgery
• Rip Reconstruction Cartilage

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
PROCEDURE	diced cartilage	In reconstructions using DC management of IMVES, the surgical nurse processed the removed cartilage into DC using a dermatome blade. Cartilage pieces of approximately 0,5-1 mm were used. After microvascular anastomosis (coupler device for venous anastomosis; Synovis MCA, Birmingham AL, USA), all DC was placed back into the rib removal zone using a blunt dissector. The vessels were embedded and stabilized in cartilage paste according to the desired orientation.

Timeline

• Start date: 2024-01-01
• Primary completion: 2024-06-30
• Completion: 2024-07-01
• First posted: 2024-07-16
• Last updated: 2024-07-16

Locations

2 sites across 1 country: Germany