Morbidity and quality of life following breast reconstruction by autologous latissimus dorsi, muscle sparing and perforator flaps

Introduction. - Morbidity following autologous latissimus dorsi flap (ALD), muscle sparing latissimus dorsi flap (MSLD) and thoracodorsal artery perforator flap (TAP) is controversial. The purpose of this study was to measure morbity using Quick Dash at 1 month and 1 year following breast reconstruction with one of these three flaps. The second objective was the evaluation of quality of life using Breast-Q. Patients and method. - Thirty four consecutive patients who had undergone breast reconstruc-tion were included in this monocentric and prospective study: 10 patients in the ALD group, 12 patients in the MSLD group and 12 patients in the TAP group.Results. - At 1 month and 1 year following surgery, the variation of Quick Dash was 13,63 and 2,38 in the ALD group, 3,41 and-1,13 in the MSLD group and 5,69 and 0 in the TAP group. Satisfaction whith breasts, psychosocial, sexual and chest well-being were higher in the ALD group. Satisfaction with back was higher in the MSLD and TAP groups. Back and shoulder well-being was comparable regardless of the flap. Seroma occurrence was very rare in case of TAP, rare and not abundant in case of MSLD and frequent in case of ALD. Conclusion. - This study appears to confirm that immediate morbidity is less important with MSLD or TAP than ALD. Hoewever at one year following surgery, morbity seems to be comparable with the 3 flaps. Patients satisfaction seems to be higher with ALD except for the aspect of the back. (C) 2022 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.