Breast Reconstruction after Blunt Breast Trauma: Systematic Review and Case Report Using the Ribeiro Technique

Abstract

Blunt breast trauma occurs in 2% of blunt chest injuries. We present the case of a 58-year-old woman with a history of severe chest trauma during a traffic accident. The patient was consulted for deformity in the left breast associated with the use of a seat belt. Breast reconstruction was performed using the Ribeiro inferior dermoglandular flap technique. This technique was originally designed to provide safety in terms of volume and more lasting aesthetic results in mammoplasties. We discuss our case, the surgical technique, and perform a systematic review of the literature on breast reconstruction after blunt chest trauma associated with the use of seat belts. Until now, there is no consensus on reconstructive treatment due to the low incidence of this entity. This is the first case to describe breast reconstruction after blunt chest trauma using the Ribeiro technique.