SynthesisAesthetic plastic surgery2022
Comparison of Flap Fixation to Its Bed and Conventional Wound Closure with Drainage in Preventing Seroma Formation Following Mastectomy for Breast Cancer: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
Synthesis in Aesthetic plastic surgery, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 10 citations in OpenAlex.
- Quilting sutures versus conventional closure after modified radical mastectomy with axillary dissection: a GRADE-assessed systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials with pre-specified subgroups by quilting extent.World journal of surgical oncology · 2026Pooled it
- Implant Based Breast Reconstruction Using a Titanium-Coated Polypropylene Mesh (TiLOOP® Bra): A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.Aesthetic plastic surgery · 2024Pooled it
- Strategies to prevent seroma formation after mastectomy surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis.JPRAS open · 2026Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundSeroma formation is a common complication following mastectomy. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to evaluate the impact of flap fixation techniques that omit drainage versus conventional closed drainage on seroma formation and related complications after mastectomy.
methodsClinical studies of flap fixation techniques versus the conventional closure technique in patients undergoing mastectomy with or without axillary clearance were retrieved from the PubMed, Embase and Cochrane databases. Papers were eligible for inclusion if the outcome was described in terms of seroma formation. Studies older than 20 years, animal studies and studies involving patients undergoing direct breast reconstruction were excluded.
resultsFour randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and four cohort studies were included in our examination. Compared with the conventional drainage group, the flap fixation group had a similar incidence of seroma formation (OR 0.76, 95% CI 0.30-1.93, p = 0.57).
conclusionBased on current evidence, mechanical flap fixation can replace conventional drainage without increasing seroma formation after mastectomy. Further well-designed RCTs are warranted to evaluate the effects of flap fixation. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.