The sternoclavicular joint is located at the cervicothoracic junction, where various types of lesions such as trauma, infection, inflammation and tumor can occur. In complex chest wall reconstruction, the sternoclavicular joint is often involved. Whether and how to reconstruct the sternoclavicular joint is a difficult problem for surgeons. At present, there is no unified standard for sternoclavicular joint resection and reconstruction. There are many materials and methods for sternoclavicular joint reconstruction. With the development of surgical techniques and treatment concepts, we have a new understanding of the anatomy, function, and surgical treatment of the sternoclavicular joint. This article provides an overview of these developments.
ObjectiveTo explore the effectiveness of the modified designed bilobed latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap in chest wall reconstruction of locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) patients.MethodsBetween January 2016 and June 2019, 64 unilateral LABC patients were admitted. All patients were female with an average age of 41.3 years (range, 34-50 years). The disease duration ranged from 6 to 32 months (mean, 12.3 months). The diameter of primary tumor ranged from 4.8 to 14.2 cm (mean, 8.59 cm). The size of chest wall defect ranged from 16 cm×15 cm to 20 cm×20 cm after modified radical mastectomy/radical mastectomy. All defects were reconstructed with the modified designed bilobed latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flaps, including 34 cases with antegrade method and 30 cases with retrograde method. The size of skin paddle ranged from 13 cm×5 cm to 17 cm×6 cm. All the donor sites were closed directly.ResultsIn antegrade group, 2 flaps (5.8%, 2/34) showed partial necrosis; in retrograde group, 6 flaps (20%, 6/30) showed partial necrosis, 5 donor sites (16.7%, 5/30) showed partial necrosis; and all of them healed after dressing treatment. The other flaps survived successfully and incisions in donor sites healed by first intention. There was no significant difference in the incidence of partial necrosis between antegrade and retrograde groups (χ2=2.904, P=0.091). The difference in delayed healing rate of donor site between the two groups was significant (P=0.013). The patients were followed up 15-30 months, with an average of 23.1 months. The appearance and texture of the flaps were satisfactory, and only linear scar left in the donor site. No local recurrence was found in all patients. Four patients died of distant metastasis, including 2 cases of liver metastasis, 1 case of brain metastasis, and 1 case of lung metastasis. The average survival time was 22.6 months (range, 20-28 months).ConclusionThe modified designed bilobed latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap can repair chest wall defect after LABC surgery. Antegrade design of the flap can ensure the blood supply of the flap and reduce the tension of the donor site, decrease the incidence of complications.
ObjectiveTo investigate pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of crush syndrome of chest and arm.MethodsBetween January 2010 and January 2015, 5 cases of crush syndrome of chest and arm caused by pressing oneself in a coma after CO poisoning or alcoholic intoxication were treated. There were 4 males and 1 female with an average age of 36.7 years (range, 28-46 years). Two patients involved left upper limb and chest, while the other three patients involved right upper limb and chest. The crushed time ranged from 4 to 12 hours (mean, 7 hours). All 5 cases received emergency decompression and vacuum sealing drainage (VSD). After surgery, the patients were transferred to Intensive Care Unit to receive continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). The wounds were repaired with skin grafts after the patients’ condition were stable.ResultsThe hospitalization time was 26-48 days (mean, 33 days). Necrosis of the skin graft occurred in 1 case, which cured after debridement and skin graft again. The skin graft survived in the other cases and the wounds healed by first intension. Five patients were followed up 12-18 months (mean, 15 months). At last follow-up, the results were excellent in all 5 cases according to the assessment criteria proposed by GU Yudong. The patients got full recovery of their upper limb activities and sensation. All the patients returned to the normal life and work.ConclusionCO poisoning, drunkenness, and pressing oneself together will lead the crush syndrome to severe and rapid progress. The key of the treatment is a comprehensive therapy including a thorough and rapid tension reduction to save the limb function, CRRT, and correction of anemia and electrolyte imbalance.
ObjectiveTo investigate the correlations between lipopolysaccharide(LPS), phospholipase A2 (PLA2) and platelet-activating factor (PAF) with coagulopathy after severe chest and abdominal injuries and their mechanisms. MethodsClinical data of 82 patients with severe chest and abdominal injuries whose trauma index (TI) was greater than or equal to 17 points in No. 253 Hospital of People's Liberation Army from January 2009 to June 2012 were retrospectively analyzed (severe chest and abdominal injury group). Those patients who had concomitant traumatic brain injuries or died in the Emergency Department were excluded from this study. There were 58 male and 24 female patients with their age of 16-76 (43.59±16.33)years. There were 17 patients with open injuries and 65 patients with closed injuries. There were 23 patients with fall injuries, 47 patients with traffic injuries, 8 patients with blunt force injuries, and 4 patients with penetrating injuries. Forty-two healthy volunteers who received routine medical examinations in the outpatient department of our hospital were chosen as the control group, including 27 males and 15 females with their age of 24-47 (37.32±10.45) years. Blood platelet (PLT) count, D-dimer (D-D), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), LPS, PLA2 and PAF were compared between the 2 groups, and linear correlation analysis was performed. ResultsPLT of the severe chest and abdominal injury group patients were significantly lower than that of the control group[(83.44±38.52)×109/L vs. (191.52±23.31)×109/L]. D-D[(1 823.89±608.02) U/L vs. (105.78±44.53) U/L], APTT [(68.24±24.12) s vs. (22.47±9.41) s], LPS[(438.66±106.02) U/L vs. (87.38±46.51) U/L], PLA2 [(41.35±14.26) ng/ml vs. (7.47±5.27)ng/ml] and PAF[(15 765.31±4 431.65) ng/L vs. (3 823.45±529.72) ng/L] of the severe chest and abdominal injury group patients were significantly higher than those of the control group(P < 0.001). PLT was significantly negatively correlated with LPS, PLA2 and PAF with all the respective correlation coefficient(r)less than-0.933 5. D-D and APTT were significantly positively correlated with LPS, PLA2 and PAF with all the respective r larger than 0.921 6. ConclusionLPS, PLA2 and PAF participate in the pathogenesis of coagulopathy in patients with severe chest and abdominal injuries. Early intervention against LPS, PLA2 and PAF may improve coagulopathy and survival rate of patients with severe chest and abdominal injuries.
ObjectiveTo explore the surgical treatment of deep chest wall infection, improve the cure rate and reduce the recurrence rate.MethodsThe clinical data of 655 patients with deep chest wall infection treated in Yanda Hospital and Beijing Royal Integrative Medicine Hospital from June 2015 to June 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 450 males and 205 females, aged 55.6±12.8 years. There were 8 patients with chest wall infection after tumor necrosis, 15 patients after radiotherapy and 632 patients after thoracotomy (612 patients after cardiovascular surgery and 20 patients after general thoracic surgery). Among them, 649 patients underwent debridement and reconstruction of chest wall defect with muscle flap.ResultsThe average operation time was 95±65 min, the average intraoperative blood loss was 180±100 mL, and the average postoperative hospital stay was 13±6 d. Of the 649 patients who underwent muscle flap reconstruction after debridement, 597 patients recovered within 2 weeks, and the primary wound healing rate was 94.4%. Twenty-three (3.5%) patients died. The median follow-up time was 25 (2-40) months. Among the remaining 632 patients, 20 recurred, with a recurrence rate of 3.1% (20/632).ConclusionPedicled muscle flap after thorough debridement of deep chest wall infection is one of the best methods to repair chest wall defect with pedicled muscle flap.
ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical value of cervical vascular color Doppler ultrasound for dignosis of nonrecurrent laryngeal nerve before thyroid surgery. MethodsThere were 1931 cases of thyroid patients treated between January 2010 to Jule 2014, group these patients according to the results of preoperative chest radiograph examination, the chest radiograph shows abnormal vessels image were group A (45 cases), no abnormalities were group B (1886 cases). Before operaton, made patients of group A to have routine carotid duplex ultrasound to identify whether the right subclavian artery abnormalities. All patients were exposed to conventional methods of recurrent laryngeal nerve during surgery. ResultsThe 45 patients of group A, chest angiography showed 17 cases with right subclavian artery abnormalities, they were confirmed that all the 17 patients were nonrecurrent laryngeal nerve by surgery, no damage cases. The other 28 cases showed a normal right subclavian artery and no cases of nonrecurrent laryngeal nerve. The 1886 patients in group B, surgical exploration found four cases with nonrecurrent laryngeal nerve, injury in 1 case. The 21 patients whose nonrecurrent laryngeal nerve were on the right side, there were no left side with nonrecurrent laryngeal nerve and no co-exist cases of nonrecurrent and recurrent laryngeal nerve. The average exposure time of nonrecurrent laryngeal nerve in patients of group A (17 cases) was significantly shorter than that group B[(4.28±1.08) min vs. (15.50±2.08) min, t=-15.978, P=0.000]. ConclusionsThe cervical vascular color Doppler ultrasound examination before thyroid surgery can be adjuvant used, if there is the right subclavian artery abnormalities, it showes that there is the right side nonrecurrent laryngeal nerve. So as to effectively prevent the damage of nonrecurrent laryngeal nerve during thyroid surgery.
Objective To evaluate the application value of repairing the defects of the chest wall with the thoracico-abdominal skin flap and the muscle flap of the musculus rectus abdominis. Methods From January 2002 to June 2005, five patients with defects in the chest wall underwent the prothesis with the thoracico-abdominal skin flap and the muscle flap of the musculus rectus abdominis under general anesthesia. Focal cleaning was performed first; then, the skin flap was designed and taken (15 cm ×10 cm); and finally, the defects of the chest wall were repaired with the muscle flap of the musculus rectus abdominis. Results Of the 5patients, 4 had the flap healing by the first intention, and 1 had the delayed healing, with no complication. The skin flap had a good appearance, without edema orpigmentation. The X-ray examination showed that the shadow of the sternal sequestrum disappeared. There was no recurrence or complication during the follow-upfor 1-3 years (average, 18 mon). Conclusion The repairing of the defects in the chest wall with the thoracico-abdominal skin flap and the muscle flap of the musculus rectus abdominis is a simple and effective surgical treatment for defects of the chest wall around the sternum, and this kind of treatment is worth applying extensively in clinical practice.
ObjectiveTo analyze the incidence of complications, duration of chest tube indwelling, and nutritional status in tuberculosis (TB) patients undergoing pulmonary surgery, and to explore perioperative nutritional management strategies and rehabilitation measures by identifying nutritional factors influencing postoperative chest tube duration. MethodsA retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical data of TB patients who underwent lobectomy at the Department of Thoracic Surgery, Chengdu Public Health Clinical Medical Center from 2022 to 2023. Patients were grouped based on chest tube duration (≤7 days vs. >7 days) and propensity score matching (PSM) was performed. Complications, drainage volume, and nutritional status were compared between groups. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with prolonged chest tube duration. ResultsAmong 276 enrolled patients, 163 had chest tube duration ≤7 days [pre-PSM: 91 males, 72 females, mean age of (34.88±14.10) years] and 113 had duration >7 days [pre-PSM: 69 males, 44 females, mean age of (39.04±13.28) years]. After PSM (45 patients per group), no significant differences were observed in pleural or pulmonary infection rates between groups (P>0.05). Univariate analysis revealed statistical differences in preoperative albumin-to-globulin ratio (A/G), 24-hour postoperative A/G, 24-hour postoperative prognostic nutritional index (PNI), pre-discharge A/G, and pre-discharge hemoglobin (P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression identified the following independent risk factors for prolonged chest tube duration: preoperative A/G, 24-hour postoperative A/G, 24-hour postoperative PNI, pre-discharge A/G, and pre-discharge hemoglobin. ConclusionPreoperative A/G, 24-hour postoperative A/G and PNI, and pre-discharge A/G and hemoglobin significantly influence chest tube duration in TB patients. Preoperative nutritional-immunological indicators independently predict prolonged drainage, while dynamic postoperative monitoring provides comprehensive recovery assessment. Integrating these parameters enables early identification of high-risk patients, facilitates personalized drainage management, and may reduce hospitalization duration while improving prognosis.
Congenital chest deformity is caused by abnormal development of spine or ribs, resulting in sternal depression or protrusion. Pectus carinatum and pectus excavatum are the most common diseases in clinic, which can either be accompanied by other syndromes or exist alone. The genetic factors of congenital thoracic deformity can be related to single gene mutation, polygene mutation and chromosome aberration. Common clinical congenital thoracic deformity with syndromes, such as Marfan syndrome and Noonan syndrome, often have relatively fixed and clear pathogenic genes. The genetic pathogenesis of non-syndromic and independent congenital thoracic malformations is usually diverse, and treatments for syndromic and non-syndromic congenital thoracic deformity are different. Therefore, it is necessary for us to differentiate syndromic and non-syndromic congenital thoracic deformities in basic research, clinical diagnosis and treatment.
Objective To evaluate clinical efficacy of four-claw Ti-planes for internal fixation of multiple rib fractures and flail chest. Methods Clinical data of 93 patients with multiple rib fractures and flail chest who were admittedto Shanghai Pudong Hospital from December 2011 to November 2012 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 78 male and 15 female patients with their age of 20-80 years. All the patients received internal fixation of rib fractures using four-clawTi-planes. Finite element modeling and analysis were performed to investigate biomechanical behaviors of rib fractures after internal fixation with four-claw Ti-planes. Results The average number of rib fractures of the 93 patients was 5.9±2.1，and each patient received 3.8±1.3 four-claw Ti-planes for internal fixation. The operations were performed 6.3±3.2 days after admission. After the rib fractures were fixed with four-claw Ti-planes，rib dislocations and chest-wall collapse of flail chest were restored，and patients’ pain was relieved. Postoperative CT image reconstruction of the chest showed no dislocationor displacement at the fixation areas of the four-claw Ti-planes. Rib fractures were stabilized well，and normal contours of the chest were restored. Finite element analysis showed that the maximum bearable stress of the rib fractures after internal fixation with four-claw Ti-planes was twice as large as normal ribs. Conclusion Clinical outcomes of four-claw Ti-planesfor internal fixation of rib fractures are satisfactory with small incisions and less muscle injury of the chest wall，so this technique deserves wide clinical use.