Novel Nipple Reinnervation Technique Using N. Suralis Graft

Jānis Lapiņš (Corresponding Author), Beatriz Soares Domingues Polita, Linda Kalniņa, Michal Grucki, Dzintars Ozols, Ansis Ģīlis, Arvīds Irmejs, Jānis Gardovskis, Jeļena Maksimenko

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Abstract

Following nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM), patients commonly experience significant impairment or total loss of nipple sensitivity, which negatively impacts the patients’ quality of life, whereas patients who retain nipple sensation postoperatively experience enhanced physical, psychosocial, and sexual well-being. Reinnervation techniques such as nerve allografting have been utilized to retain sensation. Despite the benefits of nerve allografts, such as lack of donor site morbidity, ease of use, and potentially shorter surgery time, there are shortcomings, such as the cost of commercially available acellular nerve allografts, and, most importantly, decreased sensory and motor function recovery for acellular nerve allografts with a diameter greater than 3 mm or a length greater than 50 mm. We present a technique where we performed immediate implant-based breast reconstruction combined with nipple–areola complex reinnervation using an autologous nerve graft. Following the procedure, the patient had improved sensory outcomes in the reconstructed breast and good quality-of-life indices. This report highlights the potential for sural nerve autografts in restoring breast sensation following mastectomy.

Original languageEnglish
Article number1533
Number of pages7
JournalMedicina (Lithuania)
Volume60
Issue number9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 20 Sept 2024

Keywords*

  • nerve autograft
  • nipple reinnervation
  • nipple-sparing mastectomy

Field of Science*

  • 3.2 Clinical medicine

Publication Type*

  • 1.1. Scientific article indexed in Web of Science and/or Scopus database

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