{Reference Type}: Journal Article
{Title}: Resection to restoration: Assessing the synergy of polypropylene mesh (Marlex®) combined with methyl-methacrylate and latissimus dorsi flap for primary chest wall sarcomas.
{Author}: Palmesano M;Lisa A;Storti G;Bottoni M;Gottardi A;Colombo G;Barbieri B;Garusi C;Sala P;Lo Iacono G;Spaggiari L;De Lorenzi F;Cervelli V;Rietjens M;
{Journal}: J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg
{Volume}: 93
{Issue}: 0
{Year}: 2024 Jun 15
{Factor}: 3.022
{DOI}: 10.1016/j.bjps.2024.04.022
{Abstract}: <B>BACKGROUND: </B>Chest-wall sarcomas are treated with extensive resections and complex defect reconstruction to restore chest-wall integrity. It is a difficult surgical procedure that incorporates a multidisciplinary approach for the best outcome, preventing paradoxical chest movement issues and reducing complications.<BR><B>OBJECTIVE: </B>We aimed to describe our experience of chest-wall reconstruction using polypropylene mesh (Marlex® Mesh) combined with methyl-methacrylate and soft-tissue coverage with a latissimus dorsi flap following sarcoma resection.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>Among the 53 patients treated for primary chest-wall sarcomas at the European Institute of Oncology (IEO) in Milan, Italy, from 1998 to 2020, 14 cases underwent chest-wall resection and reconstruction using polypropylene mesh, methyl-methacrylate and the latissimus dorsi flap. Patients with locally advanced breast cancers, locally advanced lung cancers, squamous cell carcinomas, and other secondary chest-wall malignancies were excluded from the study, as were the patients with different types of chest-wall reconstruction.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>In this study, 14 patients (6 men and 8 women) with various primary chest-wall sarcomas were enrolled. On an average, 2 ribs (range: 1-5) were removed during the surgeries, and the chest-wall defects ranged from 20 to 150 cm2 with an average size of 73 cm2. The mean follow-up period for these patients was approximately 63.80 months CONCLUSION: The combination of Marlex® mesh filled with methyl-methacrylate and covered using latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap provides safe, low-cost and effective single-stage chest-wall reconstruction after surgery for primary sarcomas.