Postural variations after breast reduction: introduction of a new technique to achieve an objective analysis.

Abstract

The authors performed a prospective study to evaluate postural variations arising after reduction mammaplasty, objectively recorded by means of static stabilometry. Thirty consecutive patients affected by various degrees of breast hypertrophy were enrolled in the study. Obesity, orthopedic, and otoneurologic diseases were the exclusion criteria. Postural function was evaluated with static stabilometry preoperatively and 1 and 6 months postoperatively. Patients were grouped according to age, sternal notch-nipple distance, and glandular resection and general and subgroup statistical analysis using Student t test for paired samples were performed. Statistically significant differences were found only after 6 months (P = 0.026). In the subgroup analysis, statistically significant differences were found for the age group >35 years (P = 0.0237) and for the sternal notch-nipple distance >30 cm (P = 0.0320). Stabilometry objectively demonstrated postural improvement perceived following breast reduction. Age and ptosis degree appeared to influence posture more than the entity of resection.