Effectiveness of Post-Mastectomy Breast Taping in Preventing Breast Edema: A Pilot Study
Riccardo Di Giuli, Matteo Limiti, Mattia Federico Cavallero, Roberta Comunian, Barbara Catania, Stefano Vaccari, Francesco Klinger, Valeriano VinciAbstract
Background
Postoperative breast edema is a frequent sequela following mastectomy with implant-based reconstruction and may negatively affect recovery, comfort, and quality of life. Breast taping has been proposed as a supportive strategy to enhance lymphatic drainage and reduce edema; however, evidence in the context of breast reconstruction remains limited.
Objectives
To evaluate, in a pilot randomized controlled setting, whether breast taping applied as an adjunct to standard postoperative care reduces breast edema after mastectomy with immediate implant-based reconstruction, as assessed by ultrasound-measured mastectomy flap thickness and patient-reported edema-related symptoms, and to generate preliminary efficacy and effect-size estimates to inform future confirmatory trials.
Methods
This single-center randomized controlled trial included women undergoing unilateral or bilateral mastectomy with immediate implant-based reconstruction. Patients were randomized to receive standard postoperative care alone (control) or standard care plus breast taping (experimental). Breast taping was initiated 1 week postoperatively and maintained for 14 days. Patients were followed for 2 months. The primary outcome was mastectomy flap thickness assessed by serial ultrasound examinations. Secondary outcomes included patient-reported breast edema–related symptoms measured using the Breast Edema Questionnaire (BrEQ). Between-group comparisons were performed at weeks 4 and 8.
Results
Fourteen patients were equally allocated between groups. Throughout follow-up, mean mastectomy flap thickness was consistently lower in the experimental group. A significant between-group difference in flap thickness change was observed from week 1 to week 4 (ΔT4–T1; P = 0.014), reflecting a reduction in the taping group and an increase in controls. Although differences at later time points were not statistically significant, BrEQ scores improved more rapidly and persistently in the experimental group, with significant between-group differences at week 4 (P = 0.0033) and week 8 (P = 0.018).
Conclusions
Breast taping represents a safe, simple adjunct to standard postoperative care that may help facilitate reduction of breast edema and yields sustained improvements in patient-reported symptoms following implant-based breast reconstruction. Larger, multicenter studies with longer follow-up are warranted to validate these preliminary findings.