Breast reconstruction using the latissimus dorsi (LD) muscle is a widely used technique. Muscle-sparing LD (MSLD) has yielded reductions in post-operative complications and improved quality of life. This study aimed to compare post-operative complications between conventional LD and MSLD, in patients undergoing immediate breast reconstruction (IBR).

We retrospective retrieved data on 77 patients who underwent IBR with either the LD or MSLD techniques between 1 January 2018 and 31 December 2021 in a single cancer centre in Dijon, France. Univariate and multivariate analysis was performed to compare post-operative complications between the LD and MSLD techniques, among patients undergoing IBR.

Overall, 33 had MSLD and 44 had LD IBR. In multivariate analysis, length of hospital stay was significantly shorter in MSLD group (OR=0.99; IC 95%(0.16–0.7)]; P<0.001). The presence of donor site's seroma was significantly lower in MSLD group (OR=0.004; IC 95%(0.006–0.3); P=0.013). But the total number of lipofilling was significantly higher in MSLD group (OR=3.78; IC 95%(1.69–8.46); P<0.001) with no difference concerning the number of post-operative lipofilling. Concerning the duration of surgery, no difference was observed between the two groups.

The MSLD technique can be proposed in routine practice to patients with an indication for autologous IBR but the results of this study should be confirmed by a multicentre prospective study.