Bone heterograft for chest wall reconstruction after sternal resection.
BACKGROUND
Experimental and clinical results of chest-wall reconstruction with bone heterograft after sternectomy are reported.


METHODS
Seven dogs underwent subtotal or total sternectomy and reconstruction by implantation of a cortico-spongy bone heterograft sandwiched between two layers of a reabsorbable mesh.


RESULTS
No major postoperative complications were observed. The implant has shown favorable mechanical and biological properties. Six and 9 months after operation all animals were sacrificed and pathologic examination showed good incorporation of the implanted bone with only partial resorption of its spongiosa. Subsequently, 2 patients underwent sternal resection with different indications and reconstruction was achieved by the technique developed experimentally. No complications were observed. Excellent immediate chest-wall stabilization was obtained, persisting for a follow-up period longer than 6 months.


CONCLUSIONS
In comparison with autologous bone, sterile bone heterograft seems to offer the same mechanical properties with a significantly reduced surgical trauma.
Puma
F
F
Department of Surgery (R), University of Perugia Medical School, Terni, Italy.
Avenia
N
N
Ricci
F
F
Guiducci
A
A
Fornasari
V
V
Daddi
G
G
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D016025:Bone Transplantation; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000601:surgery*; D010954:Plasmacytoma / Q000601:surgery*; D013249:Sternum / Q000601:surgery*; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome