• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.239-243
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• 1996

Chest wall reconstruction Is difficult because of the physiological and anatomical functions of thoracic cavity where the thoracic cavity must be stabilized in order to prevent paradoxical motion, and adequate protection must be provided to the mediastinal structures. A 37-year-old male patient with full-thickness defect on the left anterior thoracic cavity due to traffic accident was treated. Emergency operation was performed for debridement and bleeding control, and on postoperative 25 days, chest wall reconstruction was performed as a second-stage operation. Left anterior chest wall was reconstructed with latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap which had thoracodorsal arterial pedicle, and split-thickness skin grift from the left thigh was done. After chest wall reconstruction, spontaneous self-respiration was possible without ventilatory support. The pulmonary function test performed at postoperative 3 months revealed 80% of predicted values (FVC, FEV1.0). The postoperative result of chest wall reconstruction using latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap was excellent anatomically, physiologically and aesthetically.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.312-315
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• 2013

In chest wall reconstruction after wide chest wall resection, the use of a musculocutaneous flap or prosthetic materials is inevitable for maintaining thoracic movement and a closed pleural cavity. We report a case of a 63-year-old male with a large invasive thymic carcinoma in the anterior mediastinum. The mass measured 6.8 cm and involved the sternum, left side of the parasternal area, ribs, and intercostal muscles. The patient underwent subtotal sternectomy, radical thymectomy, and reconstruction with biological mesh (Permacol). Successful chest wall reconstruction without any other complications was achieved, demonstrating the effectiveness of Permacol.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.228-234
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• 2011

Purpose: Reconstruction of chest wall has always been a challenging problem. Muscle flaps for chest wall reconstruction have been helpful in controling infection, filling dead space and covering the prosthetic material in this challenge. However, when we use muscle flaps, functional and cosmetic donor site morbidities could occur. The authors applied and revised various partial muscle flaps and combination use of them to cover the prosthetic material for the chest wall reconstruction and evaluated the usefulness of partial muscle flaps. Methods: This study included 7 patients who underwent chest wall reconstruction using partial muscle flap to cover prosthetic material from 2004 to 2008. The pectoralis major muscle was used in anterior 2/3 parts of it leaving lateral 1/3 parts of it. The anterior 2/3 parts of the pectoralis major muscle were used while lateral 1/3 parts were left. In case of the rectus abdominis muscle flap, we used upper half of it, or we dissected it around its origin and then advanced to cover the site. The latissimus dorsi muscle flap was elevated with lateral portion of it along the descending branch of the thoracodorsal artery. If single partial muscle flap could not cover whole prosthetic material, it would be covered with combination of various partial muscle flaps adjacent to the coverage site. Results: Flap coverage of the prosthetic material and chest wall reconstructions were successfully done. There occurred no immediate and delayed post operative complications such as surgical site infection, seroma, deformity of donor site and functional impairment. Conclusion: When we use the muscle flaps to cover prosthetic material for chest wall reconstruction, use of the partial muscle flaps could be a good way to reduce donor site morbidity. Combination of multiple partial flaps could be a valuable and good alternative way to overcome the disadvantages of partial muscle flaps such as limitation of volume and size as well as flap mobility.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.28 no.11
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• pp.1075-1078
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• 1995

The desmoid tumor has been reported as the most common histologic subtype of soft tissue sarcoma occuring in chest wall and it known to be highly recurrent. The treatment of choice is a radical wide resection including a safe margin of uninvolved structures around the grossly visible tumor. We report a case of chest wall reconstruction using Marlex sandwich and latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap after wide resection of desmoid tumor on the chest wall.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.214-218
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• 2008

Purpose: Reconstruction of microtia using costal cartilage graft is commonly used technique nowadays. The chest wall depression at the donor site after the graft, however, has been noticed in many articles. Prevention or correction technique for the depression at the donor site also has been reported and we also have been concerned about the problem. This article is a case report about a new technique preventing chest wall depression after costal cartilage graft. Methods: We selected total 15 microtia patients who visited our clinic, from December 2005 to July 2007. They were 10 male and 5 female patients and the mean age was 11.9 years. The average follow up period was 9.2 months(2 to 15 months). We used 6, 7, and $8^{th}$ costal cartilage for microtia reconstruction. And then we turned over pivot of cartilage resection margin, after bihalving costal cartilage involving about 5-6 cm of $6^{th}$ and $7^{th}$ rib bone. After microtia reconstruction, chest donor sites were evaluated by physical examination and radiography. Results: Postoperative depression at the donor site was much less when the costal cartilage turnover technique was performed. Postoperative physical examination and three dimensional reconstruction CT showed that the rest part of rib bone was turned over and it supported the soft tissue defect during respiration. Conclusion: We expect that the turnover rib bone will not be absorbed after graft, as well as offering mechanical support, compared to the other reports.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.627-635
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• 2011

Purpose: Advanced breast cancer traditionally has been perceived as a contraindication to immediate breast reconstruction, because of concerns regarding adjuvant treatment delays and the cosmetic effects of radiotherapy to breast reconstruction, so delayed reconstruction is usually preferred in advanced breast cancer patients undergoing mastectomy. However, with the improved outcome using multimodality therapy, consisting of perioperative chemotherapy and radiotherapy, immediate breast reconstruction is now being performed as surgical option for selected advanced breast cancer patients. Additionally, advanced breast cancer patients may be needed soft tissue coverage of an extensive skin and soft tussue defect after mastectomy. Current authors have experienced several types of immediate breast and chest wall reconstruction for advanced breast cancer. Methods: From December of 2007 to June of 2009, 14 women performed for immediate breast and chest wall reconstruction for advanced breast cancer. They had been treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy followed by modified radical mastectomy or radical mastectomy. Four different techniques were used immediate breast and chest wall reconstruction, which are pedicled TRAM flap (4 cases), extended LD flap with STSG (3 cases), thoracoabdominal flap (4 cases) and thoracoepigastric flap (3 cases). Results: The mean age was 53 years and mean follow up period was 9 months. Patients' oncologic status ranged stage IIIa to stage IV. Two patients had major complications: partial flap necrosis of TRAM flap and one distal necrosis of thoracoabdominal flap. Three patients with stage IV disease died from metastases. Conclusion: The result of this study suggests that immediate breast and chest wall reconstruction can be considered as surgical option for advanced breast cancer. But we need long term follow up and large prospective studies for recurrence and survival.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.39-42
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• 2022

Bilateral pectoralis major myocutaneous (PMMC) flaps are commonly used to reconstruct large chest wall defects. We report a case of large chest wall defect reconstruction using bilateral PMMC flaps augmented with axillary V-Y advancement rotation flaps for additional flap advancement. A 74-year-old male patient was operated on for recurrent glottic squamous cell carcinoma. Excision of the tumor resulted in a 10×10 cm defect in the anterior chest wall. Bilateral PMMC flaps were raised to cover the chest wall defect. For further flap advancement, V-Y rotation advancement flaps from both axillae were added to allow complete closure. All flaps survived completely, and postoperative shoulder abduction was not limited (100° on the right side and 92° on the left). Age-related skin redundancy in the axillae enabled the use of V-Y rotation advancement flaps without limitation of shoulder motion. Bilateral PMMC advancement flaps and the additional use of V-Y rotation advancement flaps from both axillae may be a useful reconstructive option for very large chest wall defects in older patients.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.488-491
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• 2023

Silicone breast implant insertion is a commonly performed surgical procedure for breast augmentation or reconstruction. Among various postoperative complications, infection is one of the main causes of patient readmission and may ultimately require explantation. We report a case of infective costochondritis after augmentation mammoplasty, which has rarely been reported and is therefore difficult to diagnose. A 36-year-old female visited the clinic for persistent redness, pain, and purulent discharge around the left anteromedial chest, even after breast implant explantation. Magnetic resonance imaging showed abscess formation encircling the left fourth rib and intracartilaginous and bone marrow signal alteration at the left body of the sternum and left fourth rib. En bloc resection of partial rib and adjacent sternum were done and biopsy results confirmed infective costochondritis. Ten months postoperatively, the patient underwent chest wall reconstruction with an artificial bone graft and acellular dermal matrix. As shown in this case, early and aggressive surgical debridement of the infected costal cartilage and sternum should be performed for infective costochondritis. Furthermore, delayed chest wall reconstruction could significantly contribute to the quality of life.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.155-161
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• 1998

Between January 1979 and August 1996, resection of a primary chest wall tumor was done in 51 patients. The mean age of the patients was 36.1 years(2 to 69 years). A palpable mass was the most common symptom(32 patients, 62.7%). The tumor was malignant in 11 patients (21.6%) and benign in 40 patients(78.4%). The tumors in 32 patients(62.7%) had developed from the bony or the cartilaginous wall and in 19 patients(37.3%) from soft tissue. Thirty seven of the patients with benign tumors were treated by excision (three of the patients: wide resection and reconstruction) without recurrence or death, and they are currently free from disease. Most malignancies(8 patients) were treated by wide resection and chest wall reconstruction. Five of them are currently alive. The chest wall reconstruction with Marlex mesh, Prolene mesh, or Teflon felt was done in five of the patients with malignant tumors. There was no operative or hospital mortality among the total 51 patients.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.24 no.8
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• pp.802-806
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• 1991

Primary neoplasms of the ribs and sternum are rare. Most primary bony chest wall neoplasms are malignant, and chondrosarcoma is the most common malignancy in this location The etiology of chondrosarcoma is unknown. Definitive diagnosis of chondrosarcoma can only be made pathologically. The natural history of chest wall chondrosarcoma is one of slow growth and local recurrence. Most tumors of the sternum require wide resection and reconstruction procedures, with potentially serious postoperative problems. Advances in chest wall reconstruction primarily through refinement in muscle transposition and clarification of the functional anatomy and blood supply of trunk muscles, has resulted in a more aggressive resection of the these tumors . Recently we experienced a case with chondrosarcoma of the sternum. A 56 year-old man was admitted to our hospital due to painless, slowly enlarging mass at the left sternoclavicular junctional area. The chest radiograph strongly suggested an underlying cartilaginous neoplasm owing to the appearance of typical flocculent and curvilinear calcifications within the lesion. On CT of the chest, the tumor exhibited a scalloped or lobulated contour, hypodensity of the nonmineralized component in comparison to adjacent muscle, and characteristic stippled cartilaginous matrix mineralization, also typical for cartilaginous neoplasm. The patient underwent wide resection of the chest wall tumor include with a 2-3cm margin of normal tissue on all sides and the thoracic skeletal defect was reconstructed with polytetrafluoroethylene [Gore-Tex] soft-tissue patch. Soft tissue reconstructive procedure was done with the pectoralis major muscle transposition. The patient had an uneventful postoperative course and discharged without adjuvant treatment such as radiation and chemotherapy.