Risk factors for complications of radiation therapy on tissue expander breast reconstructions

Radiation therapy has been shown to increase complication rates of tissue expander/implant breast reconstructions. The purpose of this study was to evaluate patient characteristics to assess their impact on complications. A retrospective review of patients who underwent mastectomy plus tissue expander/implant reconstruction from January 2000 to December 2006 was performed. The main outcome of interest was the development of postoperative complications. Analyses were performed to detect risk factors for complications. A total of 560 patients were included in the study. A total of 385 patients underwent unilateral and 174 underwent bilateral tissue expander/implant reconstructions, for a total of 733 reconstructions. A total complication rate of 31.8% and a major complication rate of 24.4% were calculated. The risk factors associated with a significantly increased incidence of complications were age greater than 50 years, body mass index (BMI) greater than 30, and radiation. Women younger than 50 years had a complication rate of 28.4%, whereas women older than 50 years had a complication rate of 37.0%. Women with a BMI less than 30 had a complication rate of 27.5%, whereas women with a BMI greater than 30 had a complication rate of 49%. The major complication rate in nonradiated and radiated patients was 21.2% and 45.4%, respectively. Despite higher complication rates, tissue expander/implant reconstructions were successful in 70.1% of radiated patients. Based on this study, the ideal radiated patient would have a BMI less than 30 and be younger than 50 years of age to maximize the likelihood of a successful tissue expander/implant reconstruction.