Sternum reconstruction using titanium plates matched with "sandwich" Gore-Tex meshes.

Abstract

Chest wall reconstruction after extensive resection may be technically difficult, and which technique permits to obtain the right compromise between rigidity and plasticity of the chest wall is still argument of debate. Indeed, many techniques and materials have been proposed and tested to cover chest wall defects and to ensure correct respiratory movements, but unique results still miss. We herein report the case of a 55-years old woman with soft-tissue sarcoma involving the sternum treated with sternum and anterior ribs arch resection (from the second to the fourth). The chest wall defect was repaired using titanium plates and Gore-Tex meshes combined as a "sandwich". The scope was to obtain a synchronous movement of the prosthesis with the titanium ribs, reducing the scratching between the different materials and avoiding paradox chest wall movements.