Skip to main content
Log in

Polyarthralgia after augmentation mammaplasty with saline-filled implants

  • Originals
  • Published:
European Journal of Plastic Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

A case of polyarthralgia and serological abnormalities after augmentation mammaplasty with saline-filled prostheses is reported. Although such systemic disease has been reported in relation to gel-filled implants, this type of syndrome is very rare in association with saline-filled implants. Possible etiopathogenic factors are suggested in order to find out the mechanism of systemic immunological disease when no silicone gel is present. Shearing of silicone dioxide molecules from the implant shell could possibly be associated with the development of adjuvant disease in the case reported. It is stressed, however, that no definite connection between silicone implants and human adjuvant disease has ever been demonstrated.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Allison AC, Harington JS, Birbeck M (1966) An examination of the cytotoxic effects of silica on macrophages. J Exp Med 124:141

    Google Scholar 

  2. Ashley FL, Braley S, Rees TD et al (1967) The present status of silicone fluid in soft tissue augmentation. Plast Reconstr Surg 39:411

    Google Scholar 

  3. Baldwin CM, Kaplan EN (1983) Silicone-induced human adjuvant diseases? Ann Plast Surg 10:270

    Google Scholar 

  4. Ballantyne DL, Rees TD, Seidman I (1965) Silicone fluid: response to massive subcutaneous injections of dimethylpolysiloxane fluid in animals. Plast Reconstr Surg 36:330

    Google Scholar 

  5. Ben-Hur N, Ballantyne DL, Rees TD (1967) Local and systemic effects of dimethylpolysiloxane fluid in mice. Plast Reconstr Surg 39:423

    Google Scholar 

  6. Byron MA, Venning VA, Mowat AC (1984) Postmammaplasty human adjuvant disease. Br J Rheumatol 23:227

    Google Scholar 

  7. Delage C, Shane JJ, Johnson FB (1973) Mammary silicone granuloma. Arch Dermatol 108:104

    Google Scholar 

  8. Ellenbogen R, Rubin L (1975) Injectable fluid silicone therapy-human morbidity and mortality. JAMA 234:308

    Google Scholar 

  9. Endo LP, Edwards NL, Longley S, Danush RS (1986) Breast augmentation and arthritis: musculoskeletal symptoms after silicone mammaplasty (abstract). Arthritis Rheum 29 [Suppl]: S48

    Google Scholar 

  10. Endo LP, Edwards NL, Longley S, Corman LC, Panush RS (1987) Silicone and rheumatic diseases. Sem Arthritis Rheumatism 17:112

    Google Scholar 

  11. Fock KM, Freng PH, Tey BH (1984) Autoimmune disease developing after augmentation mammaplasty: report of three cases. J Rheumatol 11:98

    Google Scholar 

  12. Hausner RJ, Schoen FJ, Pierson KK (1978) Foreign body reaction to silicone gel in axillary lymph nodes after an augmentation mammaplasty. Plast Reconstr Surg 62:381

    Google Scholar 

  13. Heggers JP, Kossovsky N, Parsons RW, Robson MC, Pelley RP, Raine TJ(1983) Biocompatibility of silicone implants. Ann Plast Surg 11:38

    Google Scholar 

  14. Kumagai Y, Shiokawa Y, Medsger TA, Rodnan GP (1984) Clinical spectrum of connective tissue disease after cosmetic surgery. Arthritis Rheum 27:1

    Google Scholar 

  15. Miyoshi K, Miyamura T, Kobayashi Y (1964) Hypergammaglobulinemia by prolonged adjuvanticity in man. Disorders developed after augmentation mammaplasty. Jpn J Med 9:2122

    Google Scholar 

  16. Nunen SA van, Gatenby PA, Basten A (1982) Postmammaplasty connective tissue disease. Arthritis Rheum 25:694

    Google Scholar 

  17. Rees TD, Platt J, Ballantyne DL (1965) An investigation of cutaneous response to dimethylpolysiloxane (silicone liquid) in animals and humans — a preliminary report. Plast Reconstr Surg 35:131

    Google Scholar 

  18. Rees TD, Ballantyne DL, Seidman I (1967) Visceral response to subcutaneous and intraperitoneal injections of silicone in mice. Plast Reconstr Surg 39:402

    Google Scholar 

  19. Sergott TJ, Limoli JP, Baldwin CM, Laub DR (1986) Human adjuvant disease, possible autoimmune disease after silicone implantation: a review of the literature, case studies, and speculation for the future. Plast Reconstr Surg 78:104

    Google Scholar 

  20. Vargas A (1979) Shedding of silicone particles from inflated coeast implants (letter). Plast Reconstr Surg 64:252

    Google Scholar 

  21. Weiner SR, Paulus HE (1986) Chronic arthropathy occurring after augmentation mammaplasty. Plast Reconstr Surg 77:185

    Google Scholar 

  22. Weisman MH, Vecchione TR, Albert D, Moore LT, Mueller MR (1988) Connective-tissue disease following coeast augmentation: a preliminary test of the human adjuvant disease hypothesis. Plast Reconstr Surg 82:626

    Google Scholar 

References

  1. Brantley SK et al (1990) Assessment of the lymphocyte response to silicone. Plast Reconstr Surg 86:1131–1137

    Google Scholar 

  2. FDA (1990) Background information on the possible health risks of silicone coeast implants, December 18

  3. Freund J (1956) Mode of action of immunological adjuvants. Adv Tuberc Res 7:130

    Google Scholar 

  4. Frey P, Lemperle G (1991) Silikonome und rheumatoide Symptomatik —eine bekannte and eine fragliche Komplikation von Silikon-Implantaten. Dtsch Ärztebl (in press)

  5. Rose NR (1990) Letter to the FDA (Re: 88N-0244), September 12

  6. Wilflingseder A, Probst A, Mikuz G (1974) Constrictive ficoosis following silicone implants in mammary augmentation. Chir Plast 2:215–229

    Google Scholar 

References

  1. Editorial (1991) Lancet 337:332–333

  2. Sergott TJ, Limoli JP, Baldwin CM jr, Laub DR (1986) Human adjuvant disease, possible autoimmune disease after silicone implantation: a review of the literature, case studies, and speculation for the future. Plast Reconstr Surg 78:104–114

    Google Scholar 

  3. Weisman MH, Vecchione TR, Albert D, Moore LT, Mueller MR (1988) Connective-tissue disease following coeast augmentation: a preliminary test of the human adjuvant disease hypothesis. Plast Reconstr Surg 82:626–630

    Google Scholar 

References

  1. Adler A, Etzion Z, Berlyne G (1986) Uptake, distribution and excretion of 31silicone in normal excretion of 31silicone in normal rats. Am J Physiol 251: E670–673

    Google Scholar 

  2. Debbie JW, Smith MJ (1982) The silicone content of body fluids. J Sci Med 27:17–19

    Google Scholar 

  3. Jennings D, Morykwas M, DeFranzo A, Argenta L (in press) Analysis of silicone in human coeast and capsular tissue surrounding prostheses and expanders. Ann Plast Surg

  4. King EJ, Stantial H, Dolan M (1933) The biochemistry of salicic acid II. The presence of salica in tissues. J Biochem27:1002–1006

    Google Scholar 

  5. Wilson J, Braunwald E, Isselbacher K, Petersorf R, Martin J, Fauci A, Root R (1991) Principles of internal medicine. McGraw-Hill

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Heredero, F.X.S., Semper, E.M. Polyarthralgia after augmentation mammaplasty with saline-filled implants. Eur J Plast Surg 15, 1–8 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00193369

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00193369

Key words

Navigation