title: Use of pectoralis major muscle flaps to repair defects of anterior chest wall.
abstract: We closed defects of the anterior chest wall in 6 patients, using either unilateral or bilateral pectoralis major muscle flap transpositions. In 4 of these patients the defect was stabilized with autogenous rib grafts, and none of these had a flail chest. All of the transposed muscle flaps remained viable and innervated. The deformities and the functional disturbances resulting from the transpositions were minimal.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010369:Pectoralis Muscles / Q000637:transplantation*; D012272:Ribs / Q000637:transplantation; D013518:Surgery, Plastic / Q000379:methods*; D013903:Thoracic Surgery; D013909:Thorax / Q000601:surgery*; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous