Clinical trial · Observational
Nerve Coaptation in DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction
Sensory Recovery of the Breast Following Innervated and Non-innervated DIEP Flap Breast Reconstructions
- Source
- ClinicalTrials.gov
- Retrieved
- Sep 8, 2026
- Layer
- normalized (units and labels harmonized; values unchanged)
- Run
- ING-CLINICALTRIALS-20260908-000001
Summary
Brief summary (as posted)
The sensory recovery of the breast remains an undervalued aspect of breast reconstruction and surgical reinnervation is not regarded as a priority by most reconstructive surgeons. A prospective study was conducted of all patients who underwent either innervated or non-innervated DIEP flap breast reconstruction in Maastricht University Medical Center and returned for follow-up between September 2015 and July 2017. Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments were used for sensory testing of the breast. This study showed that nerve coaptation in DIEP flap breast reconstruction resulted in a significantly improved sensation of the reconstructed breast compared to non-innervated flaps.
Conditions
Conditions (1)
Free-text conditions as registered, with the CancerIndex entity they were reconciled to and the match type.
| Condition (as posted) | Mapped entity | Match | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breast Cancer | Malignant Breast Neoplasm | CURATED_EXACT | 0.92 |
Interventions
Interventions (1)
| Intervention | Type | Mapped drug | Match |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sensory nerve coaptation | Procedure | — | UNRESOLVED |
Design
Arms and outcomes
Arms (2)
- label
- Innervated DIEP flaps
- description
- Patients in this group underwent immediate or delayed, unilateral or bilateral deep inferior epigastric artery perforator (DIEP) flap breast reconstruction with additional sensory nerve coaptation.
- interventionNames
- Procedure: Sensory nerve coaptation
- label
- Non-innervated DIEP flaps
- description
- Patients in this group underwent immediate or delayed, unilateral or bilateral deep inferior epigastric artery perforator (DIEP) flap breast reconstruction without sensory nerve coaptation.
Primary outcomes (1)
- measure
- The extent of sensory recovery of the reconstructed breast to touch
- timeFrame
- Through study completion up to 24 months postoperatively
- description
- The sensory recovery of the breast to touch was tested at different follow-up moments after the initial surgery. Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments were used for sensory testing. Nine areas of the breast, indicating native skin and flap skin, were tested. Mean monofilament values were calculated for each area and compared between groups.
Eligibility
Eligibility (as posted)
- Sex
- Female
- Minimum age
- 18 Years
Show eligibility criteria text
Inclusion Criteria: * Female patients 18 years or older * Unilateral or bilateral DIEP flap breast reconstruction * Returned for follow-up between September 2015 and July 2017 * Informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Bilateral breast reconstruction with a unilateral innervated DIEP flap and a contralateral non-innervated flap * Flaps that required a take-back
References
Publications (0)
Data not yet available