[Reconstruction of chest wall defects with autogenous ribs grafts]

Three methods of chest wall reconstruction using autogenous rib grafts were reported. Fresh non-vascularized autogenous rib graft, vascularized autogenous ribs with muscle-flap, and pasteurized autogenous rib grafts were the materials used in these techniques. They are less convenient than those with artificial materials but afterwards physiologically more natural chest wall will be reconstructed. The third method (pasteurized rib graft) was applied to 22-year-old female with large recurrent desmoid tumor. Six resected ribs were heated in the saline at 60 degrees C for 30 min. and three of them were returned to the former position. Though tumor cells and bacteria are killed under this condition, these heated bone can be revascularized and replaced by normal bone as early as fresh non-vascularized rib graft.