Does muscle-sparing TRAM flap protect breast reconstruction from postmastectomy radiation damage compared with the DIEP flap?
Both DIEP and muscle-sparing free TRAM flap reconstructions had much higher rates of fat necrosis when irradiated. Contrary to our hypothesis, the authors found that immediate breast reconstruction with a muscle-sparing free TRAM flap does not result in a lower rate of fat necrosis than reconstruction with a DIEP flap.
This study shows that an external extension force reduces EMG activity of the wrist extensor muscles during gripping in healthy volunteers. As the extension force increased, a greater reduction in muscle activity was noted.