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Nerve Coaptation in DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction

NCT03428789 · Status: COMPLETED · Type: OBSERVATIONAL · Enrollment: 81

Last updated 2018-02-19

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

The sensory recovery of the breast remains an undervalued aspect of breast reconstruction and surgical reinnervation is not regarded as a priority by most reconstructive surgeons. A prospective study was conducted of all patients who underwent either innervated or non-innervated DIEP flap breast reconstruction in Maastricht University Medical Center and returned for follow-up between September 2015 and July 2017. Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments were used for sensory testing of the breast. This study showed that nerve coaptation in DIEP flap breast reconstruction resulted in a significantly improved sensation of the reconstructed breast compared to non-innervated flaps.

Conditions

Interventions

PROCEDURE

Sensory nerve coaptation

A recipient sensory nerve of the abdomen was reattached to a donor nerve in the chest area. The sensory branch of usually the 11th intercostal nerve was used as recipient nerve for nerve coaptation and the anterior cutaneous branch of the third intercostal nerve was used as donor nerve. Direct, end-to-end nerve coaptation was performed with two stitches.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Maastricht University Medical Center

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • René van der Hulst, MD, PhD · Maastricht University Medical Center

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Sex
FEMALE
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2015-09-30
Primary Completion
2017-07-31
Completion
2017-07-31

Countries

  • Netherlands

Study Locations

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Entities

Diseases

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT03428789 on ClinicalTrials.gov