Reconstruction of the chest wall

Area of Science:

• Surgical reconstruction
• Plastic and reconstructive surgery

Background:

• Chest wall reconstruction presents unique challenges.
• Traditional methods like local flaps and skin grafts remain valuable.
• Advancements in understanding tissue blood flow have improved reconstructive options.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current, reliable methods for chest wall reconstruction.
• To highlight the utility of myocutaneous flaps and microsurgery.

Main Methods:

• Review of established techniques including local flaps and split-thickness skin grafts.
• Discussion of recent findings on muscle flap vascularity.
• Description of four key myocutaneous flap options for chest wall reconstruction.
• Explanation of microsurgical principles in transferring large tissue segments.

Main Results:

• Chest wall reconstruction can be performed reliably and quickly.
• Large muscle flaps, with or without skin, can be successfully transferred.
• Four specific myocutaneous flaps are identified as highly reliable.
• Microsurgery facilitates the transfer of extensive skin and muscle tissue.

Conclusions:

• Current techniques allow for dependable and efficient chest wall reconstruction.
• Myocutaneous flaps and microsurgery represent significant advancements in the field.
• A range of reliable options exists for complex chest wall defects.