CLOSURE OF COMPLEX DEFECTS IN THE CHEST-WALL WITH MUSCLE FLAPS

Aggressive treatment of thoracic malignancy may be complicated by comp lex defects in the chest wall. These may be associated with serious co mplications such as chronic infection, respiratory or cardiac failure, or major haemorrhage. Closure of the defect and restoration of the in tegrity of the chest wall is important for both functional and cosmeti c reasons. Local flaps are often used, but may be inadequate or unavai lable. Reconstruction with free flaps is better in these cases, as thi s provides as much abundant well-vascularised tissue as is required. W e present 12 patients treated successfully for complex chest wall defe cts using various forms of local and free flap reconstruction. There w ere five complications, three healed spontaneously and two required se condary procedures before they healed.