Garment-related patient-reported outcomes: a longitudinal pre-post comparison of autologous versus implant-based breast reconstruction.
Yen-Tung Liu, Deepti Chopra, Marie Karen Bravo Moix and 4 others
PMID 42161105WHAT IT FOUND
After breast reconstruction, patients reported better bra fit, clothing comfort, and appearance.
Autologous surgery improved these more than implant-based surgery. Body image concerns rose after reconstruction but stayed below the clinical concern level.
Key findings
01In 81 breast reconstruction patients, the five garment-related BREAST-Q items improved after reconstruction compared with before mastectomy.
02Autologous reconstruction showed greater pre-post improvement than implant-based reconstruction on all garment-related items, with the largest difference in feeling sexually attractive in clothes.
03Body image dissatisfaction was higher after reconstruction than before, but neither group reached the clinically relevant threshold.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study included only 81 patients, with unbalanced groups of 27 autologous and 54 implant-based patients, and the authors say limited power prevented definitive conclusions. The autologous and implant groups differed before surgery in age and BMI, so the groups were not comparable at baseline. The paper does not describe how patients were assigned to autologous or implant reconstruction, so it cannot show that surgery type alone caused the changes. Data were collected from patients enrolled between 2011 and 2014, and the authors note that reconstruction practice has changed since then. The study did not record specific bra types, daily wear time, or prior garment history, so it cannot link outcomes to actual garment use. BREAST-Q garment items are not a comprehensive garment-specific instrument, and the authors call for a validated tool focused on garment experience.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that autologous reconstruction causes better garment outcomes. This was an observational before-and-after comparison, the groups differed in age and BMI, and the study did not record what garments patients wore.