Brustrekonstruktion mit Becker-Expandern allein und in Kombination mit Latissimuslappen

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The Becker permanent tissue expander for breast reconstruction was designed in order to achieve a more natural form of the breast by overexpansion followed by controlled deflation especially if combined with a latissimus flap. The present study was done in order to confirm this in our cases of breast reconstruction. METHODS: Between July 2003 and May 2007 in 43 breasts in 34 women an expander prosthesis was implanted, in 19 breasts in combination with a latissimus dorsi flap. In the same period the latissimus dorsi flap was used to cover a prosthesis of fixed volume in 9 cases. The anatomically shaped Becker 35 expander was implanted in 10 breasts in 6 women. Patients were examined physically after a median follow-up of 30 months. RESULTS: A generally low complication rate was seen after all kinds of reconstruction with Becker expanders. The breasts which were reconstructed by latissimus flaps and expanders exhibited larger breast volumes but only a slight increase in ptosis than the breasts after reconstruction by a latissimus and a prosthesis of fixed volume. CONCLUSIONS: The use of prostheses for breast reconstruction, alone or in combination with a latissimus flap is still a valuable method. According to our findings, a Becker expander should be suggested to be implanted under the latissimus flap, if the final volume of the prosthesis will be more than 300 cm3.