Effect of different quilting techniques on seroma formation after breast surgery: retrospective study.

Background: Quilting, a technique in which skin flaps are sutured to the underlying muscle, reduces seroma after mastectomy and/or axillary lymph node dissection. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of different quilting techniques on the formation of clinically significant seroma.

Methods: This was a retrospective study including patients undergoing mastectomy and/or axillary lymph node dissection.

Quilting following mastectomy reduces seroma, associated complications and health care consumption without impairing patient comfort.

Background: An important complication following mastectomy is seroma formation. Quilting, in which skin flaps are sutured to the underlying muscle, is reported to reduce seroma incidence, but might induce pain and impair shoulder function. Main objective is to compare quilting with conventional wound closure, regarding seroma incidence, health care consumption, and patient discomfort.