Functional nerve preserving modified radical mastectomy / 中国普通外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the methods and clinical significances of preserving the pectoral nerve(PN) and intercosto-brachial nerve(IBN) in modified radical mastectomy. Methods Eighty-seven patients suffering from breast cancer in stage Ⅰ and Ⅱ were randomly divided into 2 groups. Transpectoral anterior approach was used on patients in group A(n=52),with axillary lymph node dissection, preservation of the pectoralis minor muscles, PNS and IBNS. Patients in group B(n=35) were operated on through transpectoral posterior approach, with dissection of pectoralis minor muscles, sections of PNS and IBNS. Results No case in group A and 28 cases(80%) in group B suffered from postoperative atrophy of pectoralis major muscles(P