Clinical Outcomes in Breast Reconstruction Patients Using a Sterile Acellular Dermal Matrix Allograft

Human acellular dermal matrices (ADMs) have enabled successful breast reconstructions while decreasing muscle donor morbidity and pain for the patient. However, some literature reports indicate an increase in complications, especially infection. The decellularization and terminal sterilization properties of DermACELL (D-ADM), a human ADM, may reduce the rate of complications in augmented breast reconstruction while still maintaining successful outcomes. In the study presented here, we evaluate the quality and safety of outcomes with the use of D-ADM during tissue expander breast reconstruction. A retrospective chart review was conducted of patients who underwent breast reconstruction with the use of D-ADM, at a single-military hospital-based practice, resulting in a population of 38 subjects and 58 breasts who had breast reconstruction augmented with D-ADM. Fifty-six breasts (96.6%) in thirty-six patients demonstrated successful outcomes with a median 27 weeks' time to complete healing. Post-reconstruction radiation and chemotherapy were applied to 24.1 and 25.9% of reconstructions, respectively. Complications rates were minimal with rates of 1.7% for surgical site infection and 1.7% for red breast syndrome. The low complication rates combined with the high success and patient satisfaction rates observed for D-ADM support the use of this ADM in breast reconstruction. 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.