Shoulder function following oncoplastic breast conserving surgery-a narrative review

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Plastic Surgery
• Reconstructive Surgery

Background:

• High prevalence of breast cancer survivors necessitates investigation into late treatment morbidities.
• Oncoplastic breast conserving surgery (OPS) is increasingly popular, with evidence suggesting better prognosis than mastectomy.
• Understanding late effects of OPS, particularly shoulder function, is crucial for patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the late effects of oncoplastic breast conserving surgery (OPS) on shoulder function.
• To compare shoulder morbidity following OPS with that of conventional breast conserving surgery (BCS) and mastectomy.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, and Scopus using terms related to breast neoplasms, shoulder function, and oncoplastic surgery.
• Nine studies meeting inclusion criteria were analyzed, focusing on shoulder mobility, strength, and functional impairment.
• Various evaluation methods for shoulder function were reported across the studies.

Main Results:

• Limited knowledge exists regarding shoulder morbidity after OPS, with heterogeneity in study designs and follow-up periods.
• All included studies reported acceptable levels of shoulder morbidity following different types of OPS procedures.
• The risk of decreased shoulder function from OPS appears comparable to that of BCS and mastectomy.

Conclusions:

• Current knowledge on late effects of OPS is insufficient for definitive recommendations.
• OPS, encompassing both volume displacement and replacement, does not appear to increase shoulder morbidity risk beyond conventional breast surgeries.
• Further comparative studies on shoulder function after OPS, BCS, and mastectomy are warranted.