Early Rehabilitation After Immediate Reconstruction With TEI in Breast Cancer Patients

Early Rehabilitation After Total Mastectomy and Immediate Reconstruction With Tissue Expander Insertion in Breast Cancer Patients

The purpose of the study is to find best post-operative rehabilitation protocol after total mastectomy and immediate reconstruction with tissue expander insertion. This study compared outcomes of two post-operative rehabilitation protocols ; "conventional protocol", which immobilized shoulder and upper arm motion for a month and "early rehabilitation protocol" with short-term immobilization period and early mobilization.

To prevent surgical site complications, surgeons use so-called "conventional protocol", which immobilizes shoulder and upper arm motion for a month after total mastectmoy and immediate reconstruction with tissue expander insertion. To improve shoulder mobility and QOL of patients, the investigators introduced a new and early rehabilitation protocol with short-term immobilization in Jan 2017.

The investigators retrospectively reviewed total 115 breast cancer patients who underwent reconstructive surgery from May 2016 to Aug 2017. Patients who did their reconstruction before Jan 2017 followed conventional protocol and immobilized their shoulder for more than 4 weeks. Patients who did their reconstruction after Jan 2017 were educated to undergo a self-exercise program after short-term immobilization of 2 weeks. The investigators reviewed shoulder mobility, pain, QOL and complications at postoperative 1 month and 2 month in both group of patients.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Subject has breast cancer
• Subject underwent total mastectomy and immediate reconstruction with tissue expander insertion

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients who had pre-existing conditions before breast cancer surgery that limit shoulder movement.