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Capsular contracture: what is it? What causes it? How can it be prevented and managed?
1Department of Plastic Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 6901 Snider Plaza, Suite 120, Dallas, TX 75205, USA. dr@dr-adams.com
Clinics in Plastic Surgery
|December 6, 2008
Summary
Capsular contracture, a common breast surgery complication, often stems from bacterial contamination. Prevention involves meticulous surgical techniques and antibiotic irrigation, while treatment typically requires capsulectomy and implant replacement.
Area of Science:
- Plastic Surgery
- Surgical Complications
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Capsular contracture is the most frequent complication in aesthetic and reconstructive breast surgery, persisting for over four decades.
- The primary cause is often subclinical bacterial colonization within the implant pocket.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the underlying causes of capsular contracture.
- To define effective prevention strategies.
- To outline current treatment options for capsular contracture.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on capsular contracture.
- Analysis of preventative surgical techniques.
- Evaluation of treatment modalities for capsular contracture.
Main Results:
- Meticulous surgical techniques, including atraumatic dissection and minimizing contamination, significantly reduce contracture rates.
- Triple antibiotic irrigation of the breast implant pocket is a key preventative measure.
- Successful prevention relies on addressing subclinical bacterial contamination.
Conclusions:
- Implementing precise surgical techniques and prophylactic antibiotic irrigation are crucial for minimizing capsular contracture.
- Surgical intervention, such as total capsulectomy with potential site change and implant replacement, is the standard treatment for established capsular contracture.
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