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Published on: February 29, 2020
Clinical significance of intracapsular fluid in patients' breast implants
1Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of California, Los Angeles, School of Medicine 90095, USA.
Insights
Intracapsular fluid in breast implants occurred in 15% of cases, with no significant link to infection or rupture. Textured implants showed a trend toward fluid presence.
Area of Science:
- Plastic Surgery
- Biomaterials Science
Background:
- Clinical data on intracapsular fluid in breast implants is scarce.
- The relationship between intracapsular fluid and implant infection or colonization is not well-understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the frequency and type of intracapsular fluid.
- To investigate if intracapsular fluid correlates with implant infection, rupture, or bacterial colonization.
Main Methods:
- Prospective clinical study involving 139 implants from 72 symptomatic patients.
- Analysis of intracapsular fluid presence and microbial cultures.
- Correlation with implant shell type and clinical symptoms.
Main Results:
- Intracapsular fluid was present in 15% of implants (21/139).
- No statistically significant difference in positive microbial cultures between fluid-positive (39%) and fluid-negative (43%) groups.
- No adverse clinical relationship found between local symptoms and intracapsular fluid.
Conclusions:
- Intracapsular fluid in breast implants does not appear to be directly linked to infection or rupture.
- A trend suggests a possible association between fluid presence and non-smooth (textured) implant surfaces.
- Further research is needed to understand fluid production mechanisms and capsule activity with textured implants.
Abstract:
Clinical reports on the incidence and clinical significance of intracapsular fluid are lacking in the literature. It remains unknown whether the presence of intracapsular fluid has any relation to implant infection or colonization. The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency and type of intracapsular fluid, specifically, whether intracapsular fluid causes implant infection, implant rupture, or bacterial colonization. A total of 139 implants from 72 symptomatic patients were entered into the prospective clinical study. Our study demonstrated the presence of intracapsular fluid in 21 of 139 (15%) implants. Positive microbial cultures were identified in 39% of the implants in the positive intracapsular fluid group, compared to 43% in the negative fluid group. There was no statistically significant difference between these groups. Also, no adverse clinical relationship was demonstrated between local symptoms and presence of intracapsular fluid. There was, however, a positive trend toward the presence of fluid when implant shell types were nonsmooth (polyurethane and textured silicone implants). Further studies are indicated to elucidate the fluid production mechanism and possible secretory activity of prosthetic capsules interfacing the textured breast implant surface.
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