Repair of large chest wall defects using pedicle flaps

Area of Science:

• Surgical Oncology
• Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
• Thoracic Surgery

Background:

• Chest wall resections, often necessitated by malignancy, present significant reconstructive challenges.
• Effective coverage of anterior chest wall defects is crucial for patient recovery and preventing complications.

Observation:

• Three distinct cases of chest wall resection are presented, highlighting reconstructive techniques.
• The study focuses on the application of full-thickness pedicle flaps for defect coverage.

Findings:

• A medially based acromiothoracic flap was utilized for a lateral chest wall defect.
• Laterally based abdominal wall and axillary flaps were employed for medial defects.
• Bilateral axillary flaps were required for a large central defect after extensive sternal and rib cartilage resection due to sebaceous carcinoma.

Implications:

• These pedicle flap techniques offer versatile solutions for reconstructing various anterior chest wall defects.
• The described methods provide reliable options for complex oncologic resections.
• Successful chest wall reconstruction using these flaps can improve functional and aesthetic outcomes.