STUDY: Saline Implants & Capsular Contracture

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1: Plast Reconstr Surg. 2006 Apr;117(4):1214-9; discussion 1220-1.

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A rabbit model for capsular contracture: development and clinical

implications.

WP Jr, Haydon MS, Raniere J Jr, Trott S, Marques M, Feliciano

M, JB Jr, Tang L, Brown SA.

Department of Plastic Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern

Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390-9132, USA.

william.adams@...

BACKGROUND: Capsular contracture remains one of the most common

complications involving aesthetic and reconstructive breast surgery;

however, its cause, prevention, and treatment remain to be fully

elucidated. Presently, there is no accurate and reproducible

pathologic in vitro or in vivo model examining capsular contracture.

The purpose of this study was to establish an effective pathologic

capsular contracture animal model that mimics the formation of

capsular contracture response in humans.

METHODS: New Zealand White rabbits (n = 32) were subdivided into

experimental (n = 16) and control groups (n = 16). Each subgroup

underwent placement of smooth saline mini implants (30 cc) beneath

the panniculus carnosus in the dorsal region of the back. In

addition, the experimental group underwent instillation of fibrin

glue into the implant pocket as a capsular contracture-inducing

agent. Rabbits were euthanized from 2 to 8 weeks after the

procedure. Before the animals were euthanized, each implant was

serially inflated with saline and a pressure-volume curve was

developed using a Stryker device to assess the degree of

contracture. Representative capsule samples were collected and

histologically examined. Normal and contracted human capsular tissue

samples were also collected from patients undergoing breast implant

revision and replacement procedures. Tissue samples were assessed

histologically.

RESULTS: Pressure-volume curves demonstrated a statistically

significantly increased intracapsular pressure in the experimental

group compared with the control group. The experimental subgroup had

thicker, less transparent capsules than the control group.

Histologic evaluation of the rabbit capsule was similar to that of

the human capsule for the control and experimental subgroups.

CONCLUSIONS: The authors conclude that pathologic capsular

contracture can be reliably induced in the rabbit. This animal model

provides the framework for future investigations testing the effects

of various systemic or local agents on reduction of capsular

contracture.

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