Large Penetrating Wounds to the Chest Managed With Immediate Chest Wall Reconstruction Using Biologic Mesh, Titanium Plates, and Rotational Tissue Flaps.
John P ShillinglawCory J NonnemacherDudley B ChristiePublished in: The American surgeon (2024)
Large open chest wall wounds can be difficult to manage due to full-thickness tissue loss with underlying rib fractures and exposed lung parenchyma. Historically, the use of synthetic material has been discouraged in the traumatic setting with the concern that it may be associated with an increased risk of infection. We present 4 patients with large open injuries to the thorax-one from blunt and three from penetrating trauma. We describe our initial management followed by prompt surgical repair using biologic mesh, titanium rib spanning plates, and rotational tissue flaps with Z-plasty of the skin for definite closure. All patients did well post-operatively without complications or wound infections. With the appropriate management, we suspect there may be an advantage in performing immediate reconstruction and closure in large open thoracic injuries utilizing biologic mesh and titanium rib spanning plates with a lower risk of infection than previously believed.
Keyphrases
- rheumatoid arthritis
- minimally invasive
- end stage renal disease
- soft tissue
- wound healing
- ejection fraction
- chronic kidney disease
- spinal cord injury
- newly diagnosed
- peritoneal dialysis
- spinal cord
- prognostic factors
- trauma patients
- risk factors
- optical coherence tomography
- patient reported outcomes
- breast reconstruction