Editorial: Recent innovations in breast reconstructive surgery: a continuous debate

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ID: 310231
2026
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Abstract
idea that reconstruction extends beyond surgery, encompassing the broader physical and psychosocial reintegration of breast cancer survivors. Sung Joon Han and colleagues presented a novel vertical muscle-sparing latissimus dorsi flap for the treatment of chronic radiation-induced chest wall ulcers. Their case series demonstrated that this approach reduces operative time and morbidity while maintaining reliable perfusion and functional recovery. By avoiding patient repositioning and preserving muscle integrity, this modification simplifies complex reconstructions often performed in high-risk, irradiated fields. The technique exemplifies how revisiting classic flaps through a minimalist lens can achieve both surgical efficiency and tissue preservation-two priorities in modern reconstructive philosophy. Andrea Lisa et al. reported a single-center preliminary study assessing the efficacy of axillary dead-space closure(quilting) after mastectomy with lymph-node dissection and immediate prosthetic reconstruction. Among 81 patients, quilting significantly reduced drain duration (16 vs 20 days) and clinically significant seromas (3.7 vs 11%). It also lowered implant removal rates. Mechanical dead-space obliteration, though technically simple, proved a decisive factor for postoperative safety and cost reduction. The findings advocate for routine incorporation of axillary quilting in reconstructive protocols, representing an elegant low-tech solution to a persistent clinical problem. Complication prevention also extends to microbiological vigilance. Andrea Vittorio Emanuele Lisa et al. conducted a multicentric retrospective study on periprosthetic infections following implant-based reconstruction, analyzing 214 infected cases out of nearly 10,000 reconstructions. Gram-positive bacteria, particularly Staphylococcus aureus and S. epidermidis, dominated the isolates, though Gram-negative multidrugresistant strains appeared more frequently in overweight and smoking patients. The correlation between host factors and pathogen distribution provides new insights for tailored prophylaxis and empiric antibiotic strategies. This large dataset bridges plastic surgery with infectious-disease medicine, underscoring that reconstructive success increasingly depends on interdisciplinary collaboration. Across these contributions, several unifying themes emerge. First, data-driven personalization is reshaping reconstructive decision-making-from Bayesian meta-analysis of flap outcomes to nomogram-guided oncologic margins. Second, functional and psychological outcomes are gaining parity with traditional metrics of survival and symmetry. Third, innovation does not always mean complexity: sometimes, technical refinements such as flap orientation or quilting sutures achieve the most meaningful clinical impact. Finally, the interplay between aesthetics, biomechanics, and infection control exemplifies the multidisciplinary essence of modern breast reconstruction. As editors, we are witnessing a paradigm shift in which reconstructive surgery transcends its restorative mandate to become a fully integrated, evidence-based component of cancer care. The studies presented here collectively push the boundaries of safety, precision, and patient-centered design-while acknowledging that continuous debate remains essential to progress. In breast reconstruction, innovation is not an endpoint but a conversationone sustained by critical analysis, shared data, and above all, the lived experience of our patients.
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Authors Lisa, Andrea
Journal Frontiers in surgery
Year 2026
DOI
10.3389/fsurg.2025.1632595
URL
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/surgery/articles/10.3389/fsurg.2025.1632595/full
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