title: The use of biomaterials for chest wall reconstruction 30 years after radical surgery and radiation.
abstract: The combination of titanium plates and acellular collagen matrix was used to restore anterior chest wall integrity in a 68-year-old woman more than 30 years after a Halsted mastectomy and radiation treatment. A vertical rectus abdominis muscle flap was used for myocutaneous coverage of the reconstructed chest wall. Partial necrosis of the flap caused prolonged exposure of the collagen matrix and the titanium plates, which were then covered with a free skin graft. Long-term results were satisfactory despite continued infection treated with vacuum-assisted closure and surgical debridement. Recently introduced materials for chest wall reconstruction may offer resilience to infection, tolerability, and stability, and their use may be contemplated when the potential for local morbidity is high.
authors.affiliation: Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Thoracic Surgery and Oncology, National Cancer Institute, Pascale Foundation, Naples, Italy. gaetano.rocco@btopenworld.com
authors.forename: Gaetano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rocco
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.forename: Flavio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fazioli
authors.forename: Antonello
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: La Rocca
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Martucci
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Setola
mesh_terms: D062088:Acellular Dermis; D000368:Aged; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015409:Mastectomy, Radical / Q000379:methods*; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013905:Thoracoplasty / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors; D014025:Titanium
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D014025:Titanium