Trend shift from autologous to implant-based breast reconstruction

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Plastic Surgery
• Public Health

Background:

• Breast cancer treatment prioritizes quality of life and body image.
• Breast reconstruction is vital post-mastectomy, but choices vary globally.
• Understanding national trends aids in optimizing patient-centered care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze national trends in breast reconstruction in Germany.
• To examine changes in reconstruction methods and rates from 2012 to 2021.
• To identify variations in breast reconstruction practices across surgical departments.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of quality reports data from Germany (2012-2021).
• Examination of overall reconstruction rates.
• Assessment of implant-based versus autologous reconstruction distribution and departmental differences.

Main Results:

• Breast reconstruction rates increased, reaching 38% of mastectomy patients.
• Implant-based reconstructions surged by nearly 70% between 2012 and 2021.
• Gynecology departments performed most reconstructions, showing the highest increase in implant-based procedures.

Conclusions:

• The shift towards implant-based reconstruction is notable but reasons are speculative.
• Potential factors include increased contralateral prophylactic mastectomies and complexity of autologous reconstruction.
• Further evaluation is needed to ensure individualized, patient-centered breast reconstruction surgery.