Purpose: This study was to assess shoulder function after breast reconstruction surgery using latissimus dorsi flap.

Materials and Method: Sixty-eight patients (72 breasts) had this operation between September 1999 and June 2002. fifty-four patients (58 breasts) were assessed. The average age was 50 year (range 30 – 66 year). Average follow up was 38 month (range 24 – 54 month). DASH and Constant-Murley were used for clinical assessment.

Results: Twenty-nine (50%) shoulders found to have a normal function; whereas, 11 (19%) shoulders had mild disability, 10 (17%) shoulders had moderate disability and 8 (14%) shoulders had severe disability. Only 6 (10%) patients reported being unsatisfied with their outcome; these were, from a shoulder function point view, 4 patients with sever disability, 1 patient with moderate disability and 1 patient with normal shoulder function. However, all these 6 patients were not satisfied with their breast reconstruction outcome.

Conclusion: This study confirms that following breast reconstruction surgery using latissimus dorsi flap, there is a considerable deterioration of shoulder function of varying degrees. Nevertheless, shoulder function is not the main concern of this group of patients.

The purpose of this study was to assess shoulder function after breast reconstruction surgery using latissimus dorsi flap.

Sixty-eight patients (72 breasts) had this operation. Average follow up was 38 months (range 24 to 54 months). DASH and Constant-Murley were used for clinical assessment. Twenty-nine shoulders found to have a normal function; whereas, 11 shoulders had mild disability, 10 shoulders had moderate disability and 8 shoulders had severe disability. However, only 6 patients reported being unsatisfied with their outcome. Furthermore, all these 6 patients were not satisfied with their breast reconstruction outcome.

This study confirms that following breast reconstruction surgery using latissimus dorsi flap, there is a considerable deterioration of shoulder function of varying degrees. Nevertheless, shoulder function is not the main concern of this group of patients.