Attempt to sensitize reconstructed breast using embedded innervated flap and adipose-derived stem cells

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K10008
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 56070:Plastic and reconstructive surgery-related
• Research Institution: Osaka University
• Principal Investigator: Tomita Koichi 大阪大学, 医学系研究科, 准教授 (90423178)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 矢野 健二 大阪大学, 医学系研究科, 招へい教授 (40174560)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 乳房再建 / 知覚皮弁 / 埋め込み型皮弁

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In breast reconstruction, whether innervated flaps are useful in skin-sparing mastectomy (SSM) and nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM) remains unclear. This study aimed to examine the usefulness of innervated flaps in restoring sensation after SSM and NSM using a rat model. Dorsal cutaneous nerves of rats were entirely eliminated except for the medial branch of the dorsal cutaneous nerve of thoracic segment 13, resulting in an innervated field surrounded by a denervated field. The innervated field was elevated as an innervated island flap and then subcutaneously embedded. Postoperatively, the mechanonociceptive field expanded around the embedded innervated flap and nerve fibers were observed in the dermis of the new mechanonociceptive field. These results suggest that innervated flaps may be useful in reconstruction post-SSM/NSM.

Free Research Field

形成外科

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

乳房再建術においては、審美的な結果だけでなく、感覚機能も術後QOLのために重要である。知覚皮弁は、皮島が大きく露出する従来型乳房切除（CM）後の再建においてその有用性が報告されているが、皮膚温存乳房切除術（SSM）や乳頭温存乳房切除術（NSM）における有用性は不透明でであった。本研究の結果は、SSMやNSM後においても、CM後と同様に再建乳房の知覚障害の改善に知覚皮弁の利用が有効である可能性を示唆している。埋込み型知覚皮弁による乳房再建は、現在確立した治療法の存在しないSSM、NSM後の感覚障害に対する治療の選択肢となる可能性があると考えられた。