Correcting Poland Syndrome with a Custom-Made Silicone Implant: Contribution of Three-Dimensional Computer-Aided...

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Biomedical Engineering
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Poland syndrome is characterized by pectoral muscle hypoplasia and upper limb abnormalities.
• Traditional treatments for Poland syndrome have limitations in achieving optimal aesthetic and functional outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce an innovative surgical procedure for correcting Poland syndrome thoracic malformations using 3D modeling.
• To evaluate the aesthetic outcomes, patient satisfaction, and quality of life following reconstruction with CAD-customized silicone implants.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective analysis of 129 Poland syndrome patients treated since 1993.
• Implementation of 3D computer-aided design (CAD) for custom silicone implant creation since 2007.
• Assessment of patient satisfaction via questionnaire and quality of life using the SF-36 Health Survey.

Main Results:

• Excellent cosmetic results (>90%) and high patient satisfaction (>80%) were achieved with CAD implants.
• Significant improvements in emotional well-being, social functioning, and role emotional aspects of quality of life were observed.
• Complication rates included 3 exposed prostheses and 2 infections; lipofilling and breast prostheses were used in some cases.

Conclusions:

• CAD-customized silicone implants provide a simple, reliable method for correcting Poland syndrome, meeting aesthetic and psychological needs.
• The 3D CAD technique optimizes reconstruction for Poland syndrome, leading to significant quality-of-life improvements.
• While effective, associated procedures and secondary corrections may still be necessary for optimal Poland syndrome treatment outcomes.