Physical therapy implications following the TRAM procedure

Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, NY, USA.

The TRAM procedure has gained popularity over the last decade as an autogenous technique for breast reconstruction. Several outcome studies have demonstrated complications from this procedure, as described in this article. Women should be informed about the possible complications prior to surgery. Physical therapists can play an important role in rehabilitation and education for patients who are planning to undergo or who have undergone the TRAM procedure. It is important that physical therapists become well acquainted with the surgical procedure and treatment guidelines to effectively treat patients who have undergone the TRAM procedure, especially as this procedure increases in popularity. In addition, it is important that further research be conducted to substantiate the valuable clinical contribution that physical therapy has on successful recovery following the TRAM operation.