Illustration of Postmastectomy Functional Impairments
Industry: Medical research
Client type: Academic researcher
Purpose: Peer-reviewed publication
Deliverables: Medical illustration for journal article
Year: 2023
Project Description
A medical journal required an illustration to accompany a research article on functional impairments following mastectomy. It needed to depict the physical consequences of post-surgical changes to the chest wall, musculature, and surrounding structures in a way that was both anatomically accurate and sensitive to the patient experience being documented.
Mastectomy and related surgical procedures for breast cancer treatment can result in a range of functional impairments affecting shoulder mobility, chest wall mechanics, and upper extremity function. These include changes to the pectoralis major and minor, serratus anterior, and intercostal musculature, as well as effects on lymphatic drainage, axillary anatomy, and nerve function depending on the extent of the procedure. Research documenting and characterising these impairments informs rehabilitation protocols and supports informed consent discussions with patients considering surgical options.
The illustration needed to serve two functions: providing readers of the journal with a clear visual reference for the anatomy being discussed in the research text, and representing the patient experience with appropriate sensitivity. The subject matter sits at the intersection of clinical detail and human experience, and the visual approach needed to honour both.
Our Solution
Kryski Biomedia developed an illustration that accurately depicts the relevant post-surgical anatomy while maintaining a visual register appropriate to the subject matter. The approach was not purely diagrammatic; the illustration was rendered to preserve the humanity of the figure while clearly communicating the functional changes being described in the research.
Anatomical accuracy was maintained through reference to surgical anatomy literature and the specific parameters outlined by the journal and research team. The piece was created in Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator to publication specifications.
Illustration at the intersection of clinical accuracy and patient sensitivity
Medical illustration of surgical outcomes and patient conditions requires more than anatomical knowledge. The illustrator must make considered decisions about representation, such as how a figure is rendered, how much of the surgical reality is depicted, what level of detail serves the reader without crossing into imagery that feels dehumanising or gratuitous.
This is a skill that develops alongside scientific training, not separately from it. Kryski Biomedia brings both to every project involving patient-centred subject matter, work that will be read not only by clinicians but potentially by patients and families navigating these experiences.
Services: Medical Illustration, Surgical Anatomy Illustration, Academic Publication Graphics
