Feasibility and Safety of Superomedial Pedicle for Breast Reduction in Geriatric Patients

Abstract

Introduction Historically, inferior breast reduction is more commonly performed overall and this applies to the elder population. No study to this date has compared whether there is any difference in complications and overall safety between when using superomedial pedicle and inferior pedicle in geriatric patients and furthermore whether the safety profile of superomedial pedicle differs when compared to general population. Methods Patient files of women who had undergone breast reduction by a single surgeon over a 9 year period (2015–2023) was reviewed retrospectively. Patients over 65 years old at the time of surgery were selected as the main study group. Results were compared to a control group aged 65 years and younger consisting of 136 patients, who also had a breast reduction by the same surgeon. Results Fifty-four women met the inclusion criteria for the study group and they were further broken down into two subgroups; inferior and superomedial pedicle groups with 25 and 29 patients into each group, respectively. The mean age at the time of the operation was 67.8 years. Geriatric group had more significant comorbidities (37% vs. 9%, p<0.05). Looking solely on patients undergone superomedial pedicle breast reduction, OR times were similar between two age groups and hospital stay was slightly longer in the geriatric population albeit statistically insignificant. The average weight of specimens resected from each breast was 592.4 gr in geriatric population and slightly higher in the younger population with an average weight of 624 grams (p=0.27). Two women in the geriatric group and six women in the non-geriatric group developed major complications where superomedial pedicle was utilized, no meaningful difference was seen when major complications were compared (p=0.24). On the other hand, minor complications were significantly higher in the geriatric population compared to the younger cohort regarding superomedial pedicle reductions (p=0.02). ‘Satisfaction with breasts’ scores of BreastQ from the superomedial breast reduction subgroup was slightly higher than inferior pedicle breast reduction subgroup in geriatric population and it was statistically significant (0.032). Conclusion Safety margins and satisfaction scores of superomedial pedicled breast reduction in geriatric patients seem similar to their younger counterparts. Furthermore, with similar complication rates and with its slightly higher ‘Satisfaction with breasts’ scores when compared to inferior pedicle, superomedial pedicled breast reduction technique can be utilized without reservation in geriatric candidates for breast reduction. Level of Evidence IV This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.