This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.

AlloDerm, FlexHD have significantly comparable outcomes in matrix-based breast reconstruction

AlloDerm and FlexHD acellular dermal matrix products had similar complication outcomes when compared in immediate breast reconstruction following mastectomy, according to study results published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

The researchers analyzed charts of patients who underwent matrix-based breast reconstruction under a single surgeon using either AlloDerm (LifeCell Corp, Branchburg, N.J.) or FlexHD (Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation, Edison, N.J.) products between September 2009 and October 2015.

The review included 233 patients who underwent either bilateral (n = 161) or unilateral (n = 72) immediate breast reconstruction, resulting in 394 acellular dermal matrix-based breast reconstruction procedures. Average age of the patients was 49.6 ± 10 years. The patients reviewed did not have statistically significant variations between BMI, smoking status and radiation treatment.

AlloDerm was used in 224 breasts (132 patients), including the ready-to-use product (68.9%) and the freeze-dried product (31.1%). FlexHD was used in 170 breasts (101 patients), including FlexHD Pliable/Perforated (80.2%), FlexHD Pliable (18.8%), and FlexHD Structural (0.9%).

Complication outcomes for the AlloDerm patients included: seroma (n = 23), infection (n = 6), hematoma (n = 4), delayed wound healing (n = 7), and explantation (n = 7). Complication outcomes for the FlexHD patients included: seroma (n = 14), infection (n = 5), hematoma (n = 5), delayed wound healing (n = 6), and explantation (n = 8). Five of the patients who developed surgical-site infection had a history of either preoperative or postoperative radiation therapy.

In regards to the comparable rate of infection in both groups, the researchers accounted for potential confounding factors in a binomial regression analysis and found that the rates among the two groups were not statistically significant (OR = 0.69; 95% CI, 0.17-2.56). The researchers also found similar results when comparing the two groups by breast (OR = 0.78; 95% CI, 0.22-2.72).

“No statistical difference in infection rate or any other clinical endpoint was observed between AlloDerm and FlexHD in immediate implant-based breast reconstruction,” the authors wrote. “It is more likely that patient factors such as smoking and radiation therapy, and surgeon variables contributing to mastectomy skin flap quality, are more important to breast reconstruction outcomes.” – by Talitha Bennett

Disclosure: Sobti reports no relevant financial disclosures. Please see the full study for the other researchers’ relevant financial disclosures.