The modified triangular dermal gland composite flap effectively corrects moderate to severe inverted nipples
10.3760/cma.j.cn114453-20241129-00310
- VernacularTitle:改良三角形真皮腺体复合瓣矫正中重度乳头内陷
- Author:
Chuanhua YOU
1
;
Jingjing LI
1
;
Yihe WANG
1
;
Hao QIN
1
;
Hongjie YAN
1
Author Information
1. 海南医科大学第一附属医院整形美容外科，海口 570102
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Nipple;
Breast;
Surgical flap;
Recurrence;
Nipple inversion;
Dermoglandular composite flap
- From:
Chinese Journal of Plastic Surgery
2025;41(8):840-846
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To investigate the surgical efficacy of the modified areolar triangular dermal-glandular composite flap in correcting moderate to severe congenital nipple inversion.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed on clinical data collected from patients with moderate to severe congenital nipple inversion treated at the Department of Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, between August 2018 and January 2023. Patients were divided into two groups based on the month of admission: the control group, treated with conventional areolar triangular flap, and the observation group, treated with the modified areolar triangular dermal-glandular composite flap. Postoperatively, nipple appearance, maintenance of nipple height, and incidence of complications were assessed in both groups. At six months after surgery, surgeons evaluated the therapeutic efficacy as good, fair, or poor; the total effective rate was calculated as (number of good + fair cases) / total number of cases ×100%. Patient satisfaction was rated as very satisfied, satisfied, fair, or dissatisfied; the satisfaction rate was calculated as (number of very satisfied + satisfied cases) / total number of cases ×100%. Nipple height (measured as the distance from the areolar plane to the apex of the nipple) was recorded before and after surgery. Measurement data were analyzed using the t-test, and categorical data were analyzed using the χ2 test. A P-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results:A total of 60 female patients (94 sides) were included in the study. In the control group (28 patients), the mean age was 28.5±5.2 years; 11 cases were unilateral, and 17 cases were bilateral; 22 sides were classified as moderate, and 23 sides as severe. In the observation group (32 patients), the mean age was 29.1±4.8 years; 15 cases were unilateral, and 17 cases were bilateral; 23 sides were moderate, and 26 sides were severe. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups regarding age, severity of nipple inversion, or the ratio of unilateral to bilateral nipple inversion (all P>0.05). Postoperative follow-up lasted 6 to 15 months, with 28 patients (43 sides) in the observation group and 24 patients (39 sides) in the control group completing follow-up. No severe complications, such as nipple necrosis, occurred in either group, and nipple morphology and appearance were generally normal. The total effective rates based on surgeons' efficacy evaluations were 94.87% (37/39) in the control group and 100.00% (43/43) in the observation group, with no statistically significant difference ( P>0.05). Patient satisfaction rates were 76.92% (30/39) in the control group and 93.02% (40/43) in the observation group, showing a statistically significant difference ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in preoperative nipple height between the two groups [-3.2±1.1 mm vs. -3.5±0.9 mm, P>0.05]. At 6 months post-surgery, nipple height in the observation group was significantly greater than in the control group [10.9±2.0 mm vs. 9.5±1.9 mm, P < 0.05]. Conclusion:The modified triangular dermal-glandular composite flap technique for correcting nipple inversion is relatively simple, demonstrates low long-term recurrence rates, and provides stable maintenance of nipple height. It is one of the preferred methods for treating moderate to severe congenital nipple inversion.
