Video-assisted thoracic surgery rib resection and reconstruction with titanium plate.

A 38-year-old man was diagnosed with fibrous dysplasia of the anterolateral segment of the fifth rib by core biopsy. A decision was made to resect the rib by video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) taking care to preserve the muscle and overlying myodermal layers. Subsequent reconstruction was done using a straight titanium plate locked in place under thoracoscopic guidance to avoid friction of the plate on the skin and to verify that the transfixed screws would not injure the lung or the pericardium. The patient made an uneventful recovery and was dismissed on day 2 after surgery. Final diagnosis confirmed fibrous dysplasia.