TY - JOUR
T1 - Suspected breast implant rupture
T2 - our experience, recommendations on its management and a proposal for a model of informed consent
AU - Zingaretti, Nicola
AU - Fasano, Daniele
AU - Baruffaldi Preis, Franz W.
AU - Moreschi, Carlo
AU - Ricci, Silvia
AU - Massarut, Samuele
AU - De Francesco, Francesco
AU - Parodi, Pier Camillo
PY - 2019/1/1
Y1 - 2019/1/1
N2 - Background: Implant rupture may be detected by physical examination, ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); the majority of silicone implant ruptures are clinically undetectable. The absence of guidelines for behaviour in the face of a suspected implant rupture often entails sending these patients for prosthetic revision surgery rather than carrying out in-depth radiodiagnostics to confirm implant rupture. The aim of this paper is to report our multicentric experience, to indicate the correct diagnostic-therapeutic procedure and to propose a model of informed consent. Methods: We conducted a multicentric retrospective analysis of 183 women submitted to prosthetic revision surgery due to radiological diagnosis of suspected implant rupture after breast augmentation or post-mastectomy reconstruction, admitted to three different Plastic Surgery Departments between 2002 and 2018. We correlated surgical findings with purpose of examination, symptoms, physical examination, imaging and device specifications. Results: Two hundred and twenty-one explanted implants were preoperatively suspected as ruptured. One-third were intact and unjustifiably explanted. US associated with MRI evaluation was the most accurate method. Patient’s age, comorbidities, smoking, medications, symptoms presented, implant duration and volume did not correlate with implant rupture. Conclusions: Our study confirms that the association of US and MRI represents the mode of diagnosis with fewest false positives. Given the high number of errors associated with suspected intracapsular implant rupture, it seems necessary to submit an appropriate and specific informed consent that takes into account the emotional component and clearly and completely explains the possible alternatives and complications associated with possible prosthetic revision surgery. Level of evidence: Level III, risk/prognostic study.
AB - Background: Implant rupture may be detected by physical examination, ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); the majority of silicone implant ruptures are clinically undetectable. The absence of guidelines for behaviour in the face of a suspected implant rupture often entails sending these patients for prosthetic revision surgery rather than carrying out in-depth radiodiagnostics to confirm implant rupture. The aim of this paper is to report our multicentric experience, to indicate the correct diagnostic-therapeutic procedure and to propose a model of informed consent. Methods: We conducted a multicentric retrospective analysis of 183 women submitted to prosthetic revision surgery due to radiological diagnosis of suspected implant rupture after breast augmentation or post-mastectomy reconstruction, admitted to three different Plastic Surgery Departments between 2002 and 2018. We correlated surgical findings with purpose of examination, symptoms, physical examination, imaging and device specifications. Results: Two hundred and twenty-one explanted implants were preoperatively suspected as ruptured. One-third were intact and unjustifiably explanted. US associated with MRI evaluation was the most accurate method. Patient’s age, comorbidities, smoking, medications, symptoms presented, implant duration and volume did not correlate with implant rupture. Conclusions: Our study confirms that the association of US and MRI represents the mode of diagnosis with fewest false positives. Given the high number of errors associated with suspected intracapsular implant rupture, it seems necessary to submit an appropriate and specific informed consent that takes into account the emotional component and clearly and completely explains the possible alternatives and complications associated with possible prosthetic revision surgery. Level of evidence: Level III, risk/prognostic study.
KW - Breast augmentation
KW - Breast implant rupture
KW - Breast reconstruction
KW - Imaging of breast implant
KW - Informed consent
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U2 - 10.1007/s00238-019-01610-1
DO - 10.1007/s00238-019-01610-1
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85077081059
JO - European Journal of Plastic Surgery
JF - European Journal of Plastic Surgery
SN - 0930-343X
ER -