Sensory Restoration in Reconstructed Breast with Free TRAM Flap

Journal of the Korean Society for Surgery of the Hand 2005;14(2):125-130.
Published online October 31, 2005.

Hee Chang Ahn, M.D., Kun Yong Sung, M.D. Matthew Seung Suk Choi, M.D., Won Joong Hwang, M.D.

횡복직근 유리 피판술로 재건된 가슴에서의 감각 회복에 대한 임상적 고찰

안희창·성건용·최승석·황원중

Abstract

  The purpose of this study is to introduce a sensory restoration in reconstructed breast with free TRAM flap to evaluate recovery aspect and recovery quantity. 144 patients underwent breast reconstruction with free TRAM flap by authors and were followed up at the out patient clinique. We discovered that sensory of operated breast was recoverd. We divide the breast into 5 region ( upper medial, lower medial, upper lateral, lower lateral, nipple areolar complex) for examining the sensory restoration. Sense of upper medial region & upper lateral region is recoverd more quickly than other region. Touch sensation was recovered more quickly than pain sensation, temperature sensation, vibratory sensation. After about 1 year all protective sensation was recovered in all patient. We discovered that severe postop scar and irradiation of breast is related to delayed sensory recovery, age and size of flap is not related to sensory recovery.