title: Reconstruction with fascia lata after extensive chest wall resection: results.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Following extensive chest wall resection, the reconstruction technique should fulfill two opposing functional requirements: adequate rigidity and flexibility of the chest wall during the breathing phases. Reconstruction with fascia lata enables a balance between these two parameters, thus favouring the patients' respiratory dynamics and producing low morbidity and good functional results.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty patients underwent chest wall reconstruction using fascia lata alone or in combination with titanium plates between 2006 and 2011, due to primary tumours in 28 patients, metastases in 23 and local recurrences in 9. The mean area of resected tissue was 107.7 cm(2), distributed among the anterior, anterolateral, lateral and posterior zones. One-to-eight ribs were resected, and additional sternum resection was performed in 75% of patients. Forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) were evaluated in 33 patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  46.6% of patients underwent reconstruction with fascia lata alone, 1.6% with fascia lata, DualMesh® and titanium plates and 51.6% with fascia lata and titanium plates. There was no 30-day mortality. All patients were extubated after the operation with no need for reintubation. Five patients had postoperative complications: 2 wound dehiscences, 2 haematomas and 1 seroma. There were no significant differences between preoperative and postoperative FEV1 and FVC measurements in patients with or without lobectomy and wedge resections.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chest wall reconstruction with fascia lata, alone or in combination with titanium plates, allows the surgeon to perform a dynamic reconstruction without flail chest in extensive exeresis. Risks of infection associated with the use of prosthetic materials are also minimized. In addition, the characteristic flexibility of this tissue makes it a precious tool in paediatric chest wall reconstruction, since fascia lata naturally adapts to the physiological growth of younger bodies, thus reducing the risk of scoliosis and local deformities.
authors.affiliation: Rizzoli Orthopaedic Institute, Bologna, Italy. lory_bo@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Lorenza
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Puviani
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fazio
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Boriani
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ruggieri
authors.forename: Pier Maria
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Fornasari
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Briccoli
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D005206:Fascia Lata / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000401:mortality; D013526:Surgical Mesh; D013899:Thoracic Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D035441:Thoracic Wall / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D014025:Titanium / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014797:Vital Capacity
chemical_list: D014025:Titanium