DALLAS - January 12, 2000 - UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas plastic surgeons have developed a new antibiotic solution that may help reduce or eliminate capsular contracture, the most common risk associated with cosmetic and reconstructive breast-implant surgery.
The result of capsular contracture is hardening of the implant, which may cause pain and disfigurement, interfere with mammography, and require surgery. The cause of capsular contracture is unknown, although subclinical infections around implants are suspected. Plastic surgeons attempt to prevent infection by irrigating implant pockets prior to implantation with various antibiotic solutions.
Using a comprehensive in vitro analysis of different solutions, Dr. William P. Adams Jr., assistant professor of plastic surgery at UT Southwestern and chief of plastic surgery at Parkland Memorial Hospital, created a more effective solution that inhibits all bacterial growth from organisms commonly found around breast implants. The results of his study were published in this month's issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
"I designed a final optimal solution based on my analysis," Adams said. "I started with two solutions that others have used, and then developed the new solution which may make breast-implant procedures safer."
As part of an ongoing clinical trial, Adams has used the improved breast irrigant in approximately 125 patients undergoing breast augmentation and reconstruction in the past year and a half. None developed capsular contracture, but final evaluation will take three to five years.
Adams is an expert on breast-implant aging and technology and has headed multiple implant-related studies at UT Southwestern.
Chad Connor, UT Southwestern medical student, Dr. Fritz E. Barton Jr., professor of plastic surgery, and Dr. Rod Rohrich, chairman of plastic surgery, were co-authors of the research paper.
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Journal
Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery