The Effect of Reduction Mammaplasty on the Vertebral Column: A Radiologic Study

Abstract

Some studies emphasized that anatomic mechanisms of vertebral aberrations could be associated with large breasts. The effect of mammaplasty operation on the vertebral column and body posture seems to be beneficial; in this trial, it was planned to investigate the objective radiologic effect of reduction mammaplasty on the posture of the vertebral column in a group of patients operated due to the large breasts. Thirty-four white women with large breasts were enrolled in this study. The patients were divided into three groups according to their breast cup sizes. Anteroposterior and lateral radiographs of the lumbosacral and thoracic spine were taken at baseline preoperatively, and the same radiographic images were taken in an average of 12 months later than the reduction mammaplasty operation. All were evaluated and compared for thoracic kyphosis angle and lumbar lordosis angle both preoperatively and postoperatively. The mean thoracic kyphosis angle was 40,53 preoperatively and 39,38 postoperatively. However, there was no statistically significant difference between the preoperative and postoperative measurements in all groups (P > 0,05). The mean lumbar lordosis angle was 54,71 preoperatively and 53,18 postoperatively. Regarding the preoperative and postoperative measurements of lumbar lordosis angles, no statistically significant difference was found between the groups (P > 0,05). Although breast size may be an important factor that affects body posture, reduction mammaplasty operations have little or no radiologic effect on the vertebral column.

The Effects of Breast Reduction on Back Pain and Spine Measurements: A Systematic Review

“…Two studies were not statistically significant. Those 2 studies are the following: Lapid et al 20 with no statistically significant improvement in back inclination angle (0.89 ± 3.48, t = 0.104) and Karaaslan et al 21 with no statistically significant improvement in TK and LL.…”

“…Nine studies evaluated a cohort of breast hypertrophy patients both preoperatively and postoperatively. [17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25] The studies by Sahin et al, 19 Lapid et al, 20 Barbosa et al, 23 Tenna et al, 24 Foreman et al, 25 and Krapohl 1 were nonradiological and more external measurement based. These 6 studies used 3D gait analysis, back inclination angle, center-of-pressure displacement, center-of-gravity oscillations, lower back compressive force, and functional spine score, respectively.…”

“…1,19,20,[23][24][25] Five of the studies were radiological in nature. 17,18,21,22,26 The studies by Berberoglu et al, 17 Karabekmez et al, 18 Karaaslan et al, 21 and Findikcioglu et al 22 used regular x-rays to compare preoperative and postoperative spinal parameters while Benditte-Klepetko et al 26 used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Some of the outcome measures of these radiological studies included CL angle, TK angle, LL angle, lumbosacral inclination, and sagittal balance disturbance.…”

Does the Breast Size in Females Correlate with the Severity of Mechanical Low Back Pain?

“…The authors did not find a significant association between increasing breast cup size and severity of low back pain as measured by the ODI scale, at least between cup size A and C. This finding re-echoed the observations made by two different authors. Karaaslan et al [11] studied the change in sagittal spine alignment after a reduction mammaplasty in women with breast hypertrophy.…”

Bust size and pain of the musculoskeletal system – a literature review

“…According to them, after the surgery, the body posture improved, perceptible pain was also reduced [15]. Research by Karaslan et al stated that although breast size may be an important factor affecting posture, the reduction of mammaplastic surgery has little or no radiological impact on the spine [16].…”