Table 1.
Characteristics of cited studies*
| Study | Cases | Surgical technique | Implant type | Massage technique | Follow-up | Contracture rate with exercises | Contracture rate without exercises |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vinnik2 | 82 | IMF incision, 40 mg of triamcinolone instilled in each pocket | Low-profile, round, gel-filled prosthesis without fixation patches | Capsule expansion exercises | 12-36 mo | 29% (11/38)† | 68% (30/44) |
| Hipps et al3 | 453 | IMF incision, subglandular insertion | Smooth-surfaced, soft, gel-filled prosthesis without fixation patches | Capsule expansion exercises | 1 wk, 2 wk, monthly for 3 mo, every 3 mo for 1 y | 35% (85/243) | 30% (62/210) |
| Riddle4 | 40 | Subpectoral insertion; each outer lumen filled with 20 mg of Solu-Medrol (methylprednisolone sodium succinate), 500 mg of Ancef (cefazolin), and normal saline | Double-lumen gel-filled prosthesis | Capsule expansion exercises | 1 wk, 2 wk, 1 mo, 3 mo, and 6 mo | 0% (0/20) | 90% (18/20) |
| Becker and Prysi5 | 12 | IMF, periareolar, or axillary incisions, breast pocket irrigated with bacitracin | Expander implant | Breast massage | Not specified | 8% (1/12) | N/A |
*IMF indicates inframammary fold; N/A, not available.
†Vinnik utilized 40 mg of triamcinolone in conjunction with postoperative breast exercises. There was no group studying the effects of postoperative breast exercises alone.