Med Lasers.  2023 Dec;12(4):251-255. 10.25289/ML.23.037.

Patient-reported outcomes of therapeutic ultrasound on capsular contracture after implant-based breast reconstruction: a preliminary study

• Cha HG
• Kang YH
• Lee SK
• Park ES

• KMID: 2551162
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.25289/ML.23.037

Abstract

Background
Capsular contracture after implant-based breast reconstruction (IBR) decreases a patient’s quality of life by causing pain, discomfort, and distortion of the breast. Surgical treatment is the mainstay of capsular contracture management despite the high recurrence rate. This paper reports the preliminary results of therapeutic ultrasound as an alternative treatment option.
Methods
Ten patients who underwent an immediate unilateral IBR after a skin- or nipple-sparing mastectomy that resulted in capsular contracture were included in this study. All patients underwent ultrasonic treatment twice a week for 40 minutes every session. The patient-reported outcome was measured using the modified Breast-Q TM reconstruction module before and after the 8-week session.
Results
Among the five categories in the questionnaire, the average score of tightness/pulling and aching/ throbbing feelings improved significantly after the ultrasound treatment without complications.
Conclusion
Therapeutic ultrasound was an effective non-surgical treatment in capsular contracture after IBR. Although it is less effective in the esthetical aspects, it helps improve the patient’s quality of life by reducing the subjective symptoms.

Keyword

Implant capsular contracture; Ultrasonics; Breast reconstruction