title: Chest wall reconstruction using iliac bone allografts and muscle flaps.
abstract: Technically we can divide full-thickness thoracic reconstruction into 2 parts: providing a rigid support and ensuring well-vascularized coverage. Since 1986, the authors' center has had ample experience with bone banks and the use of cryopreserved bone grafts, which led them to consider the possibility of using these grafts for full-thickness chest wall reconstruction. They describe 3 patients in whom resection of the tumor and reconstruction of the thorax were carried out using iliac bone allografts covered with muscle flaps (1 pectoralis major and 2 rectus abdominis). None of the patients experienced breathing difficulties, pain, or instability after 14 months, 18 months, and 11 years of follow-up. The result of the reconstruction was excellent in all 3 patients in terms of function and aesthetics. The advantage of allografts compared with synthetic materials is their potential integration; they can become part of the host patient's living tissue.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Cirugía Plástica Reparadora y Estética, Clínica Universitaria, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain. egtutor@unav.es
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Garcia-Tutor
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yeste
authors.forename: Julio
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Murillo
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Aubá
authors.forename: Mikel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sanjulian
authors.forename: Wenceslao
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Torre
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016025:Bone Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D002813:Chondrosarcoma / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007085:Ilium / Q000637:transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000637:transplantation*; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013899:Thoracic Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D035441:Thoracic Wall / Q000601:surgery*; D013905:Thoracoplasty / Q000379:methods*; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous