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Botulinum Toxin-A Infiltration to Control Post-Operative Pain after Mastectomy and Expander Reconstruction as Potentially Useful Tool: A Narrative Review

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  • Breast Surgery
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Abstract

Abstract

Botulinum toxin-A (BTX-A), a neurotoxin produced by Clostridium botulinum, was assessed for relieving implant-related pectoralis major muscle’s painful spasms. In detail, 100 units of BTX-A can reduce muscle activity and, as a consequence, muscle spasms. The latter is considered the leading cause of post-operative pain after the sub-pectoral tissue expansion, sometimes leading to early expanders’ removal. In addition, women choosing post-mastectomy reconstruction surgery seem to suffer worse post-operative pain than those who stop at the mastectomy stage. However, there is no unanimous consensus concerning the potential benefits of BTX-A in reducing pain related to the sub-pectoral placement of tissue expanders in breast reconstruction due to the exiguity of evidence. Therefore, this review aims to describe BTX-A-related evidence in this reconstruction setting.

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Acknowledgement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Author notes

  1. Giuseppe Andrea Ferraro, Sara Mattiello, and Arcangelo Natriello have contributed equally and share the first authorship.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Multidisciplinary Department of Medical and Dental Specialties, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138, Naples, Italy

    Giuseppe Andrea Ferraro, Sara Mattiello, Giuseppe Lanzano & Giovanni Francesco Nicoletti

  2. Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138, Naples, Italy

    Arcangelo Natriello

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  1. Giuseppe Andrea Ferraro
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  2. Sara Mattiello
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Correspondence to Giuseppe Andrea Ferraro.

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Ferraro, G.A., Mattiello, S., Natriello, A. et al. Botulinum Toxin-A Infiltration to Control Post-Operative Pain after Mastectomy and Expander Reconstruction as Potentially Useful Tool: A Narrative Review. Aesth Plast Surg (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00266-024-04034-w

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