Five-year experience with titanium mesh for rigid chest wall reconstruction.

OBJECTIVE

To characterize the performance of titanium mesh (TM) (off-label) for rigid chest wall reconstruction at a single institution over a 5-year period.

METHODS

Between January 1, 2019, and May 15, 2023, 22 patients (median age, 61 years) underwent chest wall resection with TM reconstruction at Cleveland Clinic. Indications for resection included sarcoma (n = 15), breast cancer (n = 2), lung cancer (n = 2), chondroblastoma (n = 1), and benign neoplasm (n = 2). Patients were followed every 6 months with computed tomography scans for cancer recurrence. Continuous variables are summarized as median (interquartile range [IQR]); categorical variables, as frequency and percentage. Time to mesh fracture was assessed nonparametrically using Kaplan-Meier analysis.

RESULTS

Among the 22 patients over 21,870 patient-days of TM implantation, 21 (95%) had an R0 resection. The mean area of mesh coverage was 108 cm (IQR, 97-180 cm). No patient experienced respiratory complications or mesh failure postoperatively. Of the 3 reoperations (13.6%), 2 were for delayed regional infection (at 7 and 12 months postoperatively), necessitating localized mesh removal, and the third was for local cancer recurrence. Fifteen implants developed visible fractures on imaging at a median time of 9 months after implantation. There were no adverse sequelae, including migration/erosion or clinical decline in respiratory function.

CONCLUSIONS

Chest wall resections, particularly those for sarcomas, require large margins for optimal oncologic outcomes. Rigid reconstruction of large defects is desirable, yet options are limited. TM reconstruction provides a promising alternative because of its biocompatibility, rigidity, robust incorporation into surrounding structures, and resistance to infection.