An Improved Chest Wall Reconstruction Technique With Twisted Steel Wire-Reinforced Neoribs.

PURPOSE

Large chest wall defects often require reconstruction to improve the functionality of the chest wall and to achieve aesthetic results. An optimized technique for chest wall reconstruction with superior mechanical properties is presented here.

DESCRIPTION

In this technique, the chest wall is reconstructed by neoribs. Synthetic neoribs are constructed by integration of twisted steel wires with bone cement, customized for the patient and without the exposure of cement to the medullary cavity of the ribs.

EVALUATION

The proposed technique is easy to reproduce, is low cost, and achieves excellent aesthetic results. Compared with other techniques, this technique achieves superior tensile and compressive strengths.

CONCLUSIONS

Reconstruction of the chest wall with neoribs reinforced with twisted steel wire seems to be the optimal technique for chest wall reconstruction, with improved mechanical properties.