A National Snapshot of Patient-Reported Outcomes Comparing Types of Abdominal Flaps for Breast Reconstruction

Background: This study aimed to identify differences in patient-reported abdominal well-being, satisfaction, and quality of life in women with muscle-preserving free abdominal versus pedicle transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous (TRAM) flap for breast reconstruction. Methods: Women with a history of breast cancer surgery were recruited from the Army of Women foundation to take the BREAST-Q and a background questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and regression analyses were used to compare abdominal physical well-being, breast satisfaction, chest physical, psychosocial well-being, and sexual well-being in women undergoing free versus pedicle TRAM flaps. Results: Of 657 women, 273 (41 percent) underwent free flap surgery and 384 (58 percent) underwent pedicle TRAM flap surgery. Compared with unilateral pedicle TRAM flaps, those with unilateral free flaps scored an average of 9.5 points higher (95 percent CI, 5.4 to 13.6; p

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