Management of Post-Mastectomy Radio-Necrotic Ulcers & Osteoradionecrosis

Abstract

Background : Breast cancer is still the most common indication for chest wall irradiation, despite the advances in RTH techniques complications still occur, and the time of its occurrence vary and could take few months to many years. ORN usually manifests with pain, exposed bone, fistulae and pathological fracture and the proper management needs proper debridement and coverage by thick musc u locutaneous flaps. Objective: To evaluate different techniques of surgical management of post - irradiation persistent radio-necrotic ulcer & ORN with emphasis on the outcome of each technique. Patients and methods: A retrospective study from 2010 to 2015 reviewed 20 patients subjected to post-mastectomy radiotherapy as a treatment for breast cancer inNCICairo, and Minia oncology center Hospital, Egypt. Cases were biopsied to exclude local recurrence. The age, sex, type of ulcer, dose of radiotherapy received and the management done for these cases w ere recorded. Results : Only 4 patients responded to conservative treatment in the form of repeated dressings, and 16 patients needed surgical treatment; 5 of them were treated with debridement and coverage with split thickness graft with high rate of complications reaching 80%, the other 11 patients were reconstructed with musc u locutanoeus flaps, of these 7 patients were reconstructed with LD flaps with 57.14% success rate and minor complications only, the other 4 cases were reconstructed with TRAM flap with 50% success and major loss of the flap in one case that needed salvage by LD flap. Pre-operative comorbidity w as found in 6 patients and all of them experienced complications while only 3 of the other 14 who had no comorbidity had postoperative complications. Conclusion: Pedicled flaps provide a good choice for reconstruction and provide chest wall support without the use of synthetic mesh .