The Impact of Reduction Mammaplasty on Back Pain and Posture in Patients with Macromastia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Eva-Maria Böhmer, Marcel Betsch, Maximilian Stumpfe et al.
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review and meta-analysis assessed back pain and postural outcomes after reduction mammaplasty in patients with macromastia, including prospective and retrospective studies. Of 47 studies reviewed, 25 contributed to meta-analyses (n = 4677). All studies assessing back pain reported relief; in a pooled analysis of 12 studies, 90% of patients experienced significant back pain relief (95% CI, 86% to 93%). Thoracic kyphosis improved, while changes in lumbar lordosis were not statistically significant. Evidence on postural control was exploratory.
Key findings
- Across 12 studies (n = 1380), 90% of patients experienced significant back pain relief (95% CI, 86% to 93%).
- In 7 studies (n = 393), back-pain visual analog scale scores decreased (mean difference, 5.01 [95% CI, 3.11 to 6.91]; P < 0.01).
- Thoracic kyphosis improved (mean difference, 1.5 degrees [95% CI, 0.23 to 2.76 degrees]; P = 0.02); lumbar lordosis changes were not significant (P = 0.13).
- Postural control findings were exploratory because few comparable studies were available.
Why it matters
The pooled findings indicate that back-pain relief is commonly reported after reduction mammaplasty in patients with macromastia, alongside a measurable improvement in thoracic kyphosis. These outcomes help characterize potential symptom and postural benefits, while the less consistent lumbar findings and limited postural-control evidence underscore that effects may differ across outcomes.
What to keep in mind
The review included both prospective and retrospective studies, and postural-control evidence was limited by the small number of comparable studies.