Comparative Analysis of Sterile Freeze-Dried Versus Sterile Pre-Hydration Acellular Dermal Matrix in Implant-Based Breast Reconstruction.

INTRODUCTION: Implant-based breast reconstruction currently represents the most popular form of breast reconstruction. Acellular dermal matrix (ADM) is a biological scaffold which is used for inferolateral implant coverage in implant-based breast reconstruction. There are two types in the way when using ADM, freeze-dried type and pre-hydrated type. In this study, we focused on complication and aesthetic outcome resulting from freeze-dried type or pre-hydrated type. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Through retrospective chart review, we analysed 78 patients (using 26 freeze-dried type, 52 pre-hydrated type, MegaDerm; L&C BIO, Seongnam, Korea) from January 2016 to February 2019. Complications such as skin inflammation, wound dehiscence, skin necrosis, infection, nipple-areolar necrosis were assessed with medical chart review with post-operative photographic findings by two independent assessors. Drainage amount of operative site and retention period of drainage was checked. Assessment for aesthetic outcome categorized into five parts, shape, volume, symmetry, nipple-areolar complex and scar. Two independent assessors undertook visual analogue scale of 1 (very dissatisfied) to 5(very satisfied) at 1 year after the surgery. And the symmetry of breast was evaluated subjectively by the patient for the same scale. If the implant was removed, aesthetic outcome assessment has not been implemented. RESULTS: In aesthetic assessment, the category of shape assessed by clinician and symmetry assessed by patient showed higher in pre-hydrated type group with significant differences. In the pre-hydrated type group, the other aesthetic outcomes including the categories of shape, size, symmetry and texture were not statistically significant, but higher. In complication, the result showed no significant difference between the two groups. In addition, there was no difference in the amount of drainage. CONCLUSIONS: Pre-hydrated type ADM is designed to be softer than freeze-dried type. We could predict pre-hydrated type would provide better texture of breast. Indeed, in this study, the shape showed better in pre-hydrated group, which was related to the nature of texture. Also, it also showed better results in the volume, symmetry, nipple-areolar complex and scar and may be related to skin thickness or remaining soft tissue after mastectomy procedure. In future studies, it should be conducted with consideration of post-mastectomy factors. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .