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Hartmann, Robin ; Chrobot, Nikolas ; Festbaum, Christian ; Alfertshofer, Michael ; Obermeier, Katharina Theresa ; Smolka, Wenko ; Ettl, Tobias ; Prantl, Lukas ; Brébant, Vanessa

Symmetry After Breast Reconstruction Surgery: A Comparison of Immediate vs. Delayed-Immediate Breast Reconstruction Using Smartphone-Based 3D Surface Imaging

Hartmann, Robin, Chrobot, Nikolas , Festbaum, Christian, Alfertshofer, Michael, Obermeier, Katharina Theresa, Smolka, Wenko, Ettl, Tobias , Prantl, Lukas and Brébant, Vanessa (2025) Symmetry After Breast Reconstruction Surgery: A Comparison of Immediate vs. Delayed-Immediate Breast Reconstruction Using Smartphone-Based 3D Surface Imaging. Journal of Clinical Medicine 14 (21), p. 7622.

Date of publication of this fulltext: 03 Nov 2025 14:11
Article
DOI to cite this document: 10.5283/epub.78058


Abstract

Background: Breast reconstruction surgery (BRS) is a vital coping mechanism for patients undergoing mastectomy. Various methods have been introduced, including immediate and delayed-immediate BRS. This study employs a smartphone-based approach for three-dimensional (3D) surface imaging to compare outcomes after immediate vs. delayed-immediate BRS. Methods: Twenty-six patients who underwent BRS ...

Background: Breast reconstruction surgery (BRS) is a vital coping mechanism for patients undergoing mastectomy. Various methods have been introduced, including immediate and delayed-immediate BRS. This study employs a smartphone-based approach for three-dimensional (3D) surface imaging to compare outcomes after immediate vs. delayed-immediate BRS. Methods: Twenty-six patients who underwent BRS using the deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap at our institution from 1 October 2018 to 1 October 2023 were included in this study. Thirteen patients underwent immediate BRS and thirteen underwent delayed-immediate BRS. Following successful BRS, each patient underwent a digital anthropometric examination that included 14 measurements and the calculation of the symmetry index (SI) using the iPhone 15 Pro along with the 3D Scanner App and the Vectra Analysis Module (VAM). Measurements were subsequently compared between immediate and delayed-immediate BRS using the t-test for independent samples. Results: For 11 of 14 measurements, no significant differences were detected between immediate and delayed-immediate BRS. The SI did not differ significantly between immediate (M = 0.85) and delayed-immediate (M = 0.88) BRS (t-test for independent samples; p = 0.23, n = 26, two-tailed). Additionally, no significant differences were found between patients’ age, height, weight, BMI, time since first diagnosis, and flap weight using a t-test for independent samples. Conclusions: No statistically significant differences in breast symmetry were detected between immediate and delayed-immediate reconstruction in this cohort. This study supports the integration of smartphone-based 3D imaging into routine plastic surgery.



Involved Institutions


Details

Item typeArticle
Journal or Publication TitleJournal of Clinical Medicine
Publisher:MDPI
Volume:14
Number of Issue or Book Chapter:21
Page Range:p. 7622
Date27 October 2025
InstitutionsMedicine > Zentren des Universitätsklinikums Regensburg > Zentrum für Plastische-, Hand- und Wiederherstellungschirurgie
Identification Number
ValueType
10.3390/jcm14217622DOI
Keywordsthree-dimensional surface imaging; smartphone-based surface imaging; breast reconstruction surgery; stereophotogrammetry; plastic surgery
Dewey Decimal Classification600 Technology > 610 Medical sciences Medicine
StatusPublished
RefereedYes, this version has been refereed
Created at the University of RegensburgYes
URN of the UB Regensburgurn:nbn:de:bvb:355-epub-780582
Item ID78058

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