Comparative Outcomes of Pedicled vs. Free TRAM Flaps Following Post-Reconstruction Radiation Therapy: Is There a Difference?

Abstract

The optimal timing of autogenous breast reconstruction for patients who require post-mastectomy radiation therapy is controversial. Opponents of immediate reconstruction have cited significantly higher rates of late complications, including significant fat necrosis, flap contracture, and flap displacement leading to gross asymmetry. Immediate reconstruction after mastectomy, however, provides both aesthetic and psychological advantages over delayed reconstruction. This study reviewed the aesthetic outcomes of pedicled vs. free TRAM flap immediate breast reconstruction in patients treated with post-reconstruction radiation therapy.