Asurgical technique using local tissue skate flaps combined with cylindersmade froma naturally derived biomaterial has been used\neffectively for nipple reconstruction. A retrospective review of patients who underwent nipple reconstruction using this technique\nwas performed. Comorbidities and type of breast reconstruction were collected. Outcome evaluation included complications,\nsurgical revisions, and nipple projection.There were 115 skate flap reconstructions performed in 83 patients between July 2009 and\nJanuary 2013. Patients ranged from 32 to 73 years old. Average body mass index was 28.0. The most common comorbidities were\nhypertension (39.8%) and smoking (16.9%). After breast reconstruction, 68.7% of the patients underwent chemotherapy and 20.5%\nunderwent radiation. Seventy-one patients had immediate breast reconstructionwith expanders and 12 had delayed reconstruction.\nThe only reported complications were extrusions (3.5%). Six nipples (5.2%) in 5 patients required surgical revision due to loss of\nprojection; two patients had minor loss of projection but did not require surgical revision. Nipple projection at time of surgery\nranged from 6 to 7mm and average projection at 6 months was 3ââ?¬â??5 mm. A surgical technique for nipple reconstruction using a\nskate flapwith a graftmaterial is described.Complications are infrequent and short-termprojection measurements are encouraging.
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