Body Posture After Mastectomy: Comparison Between Immediate Breast Reconstruction Versus Mastectomy Alone

Abstract

Background. Immediate breast reconstruction has been increasingly incorporated as part of breast cancer treatment, especially for the psychological benefits. Currently, there are many options for breast reconstruction surgery, but the impact of the different techniques on body posture has not been widely studied. One study demonstrated that immediate breast reconstruction with a Beker-25 prosthesis could help to preserve body posture after mastectomy; however, there is no evidence regarding the effect of surgery on the body posture of women after breast reconstruction when using autologous tissue. Purpose. The purpose of this paper is to compare the body postures of women who underwent immediate breast reconstruction using an abdominal flap with those of women who underwent mastectomy alone. Design. This is a cross-sectional study. Subjects. Seventy-six women diagnosed with breast cancer underwent mastectomy, between 1 and 5 years after the diagnosis, are the participants of the study. Two groups were defined: women who underwent mastectomy and immediate breast reconstruction (n = 38) and women who underwent mastectomy alone (n = 38). Procedure. To assess body posture, specific anatomical points for obtaining photographs were located and marked in anterior, posterior and right-side and left-side views. The photographs were analysed using Postural Analysis Software/Software de Analise Postural (PAS/SAPO). Results. In the left lateral view, there was a significant difference in the vertical alignment of the trunk (4.2 vs 3.1; p = 0.05). There were no significant differences between the two groups for the variables in the anterior, posterior or right-side views. Conclusion. Women who underwent mastectomy alone, compared with women who underwent immediate breast reconstruction with abdominal flaps, showed differences in the vertical alignment of the trunk, with greater asymmetry between the acromion and greater trochanter, which can mean trunk rotation. No significant differences were found between the two groups in the alignment of the head, shoulders, scapula, or pelvis.