Abstract

During the past decade, there has been some controversy related to using flap fixation techniques instead of conventional wound closure methods and drain placement during mastectomy procedures. The purpose of our study was to address this controversy using a systematic review and meta-analysis of current published literature. Nineteen studies met our inclusion criteria. Our sample population consisted of 2,956 participants divided into two groups. The study group (SG) consisted of 1,418 individuals and the control group (CG) consisted of 1,538 participants. We found there was a significant reduction in the incidence of seroma formation (odds ratio OR = 0.35; 95% confidence interval, CI 0.3, 0.42; p < .000) and surgical site infection (OR = 0.65; 95% CI 0.48, 0.88; p = .006) in the SG compared with the CG. The length of hospital stay was also significantly reduced in the SG (0.59 days; 95% CI 0.73, 0.46; chi 2 6, N = 502 = 52.88; p < .000) compared with the CG. The results of our study show that using a flap fixation technique after mastectomy can decrease the patient's risk for seroma formation and surgical site infection while reducing their length of hospital stay. Further studies with longer follow-up periods are warranted to evaluate long-term complications associated with using a flap fixation technique compared with using conventional wound closure techniques and drain placement.