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. 2021 Mar 15;9(3):e3457.
doi: 10.1097/GOX.0000000000003457. eCollection 2021 Mar.

Quality of Life in Palliative Post-mastectomy Reconstruction: Keystone versus Rotational Flap

Irena Sakura Rini  1 , Alberta Jesslyn Gunardi  2 , Yashinta  2 , Jonathan Kevin  2 , Renate Parlene Marsaulina  3 , Teguh Aryandono  4 , Ishandono Dachlan  4 , Iwan Dwiprahasto  4
Affiliations

Quality of Life in Palliative Post-mastectomy Reconstruction: Keystone versus Rotational Flap

Irena Sakura Rini et al. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. .

Abstract

Late stage breast cancer presents with malignant wound causing skin infiltration, pain, bleeding, and malodour, which affect quality of life (QoL). Palliative mastectomy aims to eliminate wound symptoms and requires prolonged wound care to improve QoL. This study aimed to prospectively investigate QoL differences in 2 alternative reconstructive methods: keystone flap and rotational flap.

Methods: Twenty-four late stage breast cancer patients with symptoms of cancer wounds were included in this study. They were divided into 2 groups: keystone flap and rotational flap. Each patient's QoL was evaluated using EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-BR23 before and 3 weeks after surgery.

Results: Global health post-surgery was significantly improved compared with pre-surgery in all patients (P < 0.001), across both the keystone (P = 0.018) and rotational groups (P = 0.007). Breast symptoms post-surgery were also improved compared with pre-surgery in all patients (P = 0.035). However, when analyzed per group, breast symptoms were only improved significantly in the keystone group (P = 0.013) but not in the rotational group (P = 0.575). When compared between 2 groups, future perspective post-surgery in the keystone group [100 (0-100)] was better than the rotational group [66.7 (0-100)], (P = 0.020).

Conclusions: Reconstructive surgery after mastectomy improves QoL in late stage breast cancer patients. The keystone flap is superior to the rotational flap in improving global health and breast symptoms.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure: The authors have no financial interest to declare in relation to the content of this article.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Procedure for keystone flap reconstruction. A, Harvesting phase. B, Insetting phase. C, Result.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Keystone flap process. A, Breast cancer malignant wound. B, Flap design on post-mastectomy defect (note the double keystone design). C, Insetting phase. D, Direct post-reconstruction result. E, Three weeks post-reconstruction.
Fig. 3.
Fig. 3.
Rotational flap process. A, Breast cancer malignant wound. B, Flap design on post-mastectomy defect. C, Insetting phase. D, Direct post-reconstruction result. E, Three weeks post-reconstruction.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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