[Breast reconstruction after prolonged tissue expansion. About 247 cases].

[SUBJECT] The purpose of this study was to analyse the complications and the aesthetic results in case of slow tissue expansion in prosthetic breast reconstruction.

[PATIENTS AND METHODS] We tracked 237 patients representing 247 mammary reconstructions operated between 1992 and 2004. These patients were distributed in two series, a series of 148 operated mammary reconstructions between 1992 and 2000 and a series of 99 reconstructions operated between 2001 and 2004. For every reconstruction, we analysed the progress of the expansion, the complications and the quality of the aesthetic results according to the radiotherapy and the type of implant used.

[RESULTS] The radiotherapy increases the risk of failure of the breast reconstruction and degrades the quality of the aesthetic results. Capsular contractures are rare and their frequency does not depend on the irradiation. Prosthesis infections and exposure are more frequent on irradiated ground.

[DISCUSSION] The tissue expansion in prosthetic breast reconstruction is a technique studied well in the literature, but few authors use a chronic expansion and compare the long-term results according to the radiotherapy. If our study confirms the noxious role of the radiotherapy as for the complications and for the aesthetic aspect of the results, it is not a question for us of an absolute contraindication. The weak rate of capsular contracture is attributable to the chronic character of the expansion, which allows the maturation of the capsule. The use of silicone gel implants decreases the deflations but does not improve the results.

[CONCLUSIONS] The radiotherapy increases the risks of failure of the tissulaire expansion and decreases the quality of the aesthetic results. The chronic character of the expansion allows to obtain a rate of capsular contracture weak, even on irradiated ground. The silicone gel implants make it possible to obtain a perennial result.