Sternal allograft transplantation for anterior chest wall reconstruction after sternectomy

Abstract

The reconstruction of the anterior chest wall after sternectomy for cancer or after mediastinitis is still a challenging procedure for the thoracic surgeon. Different surgical techniques and materials have been used for anterior chest wall reconstruction, but none of them is yet considered to be the gold standard. In this video tutorial, we report on our experience of using a sternal allograft for reconstruction of the anterior chest wall. Sternal allografts offer the same advantages as bone autografts and obviously are perfectly shaped for sternal replacement. They are simple to trim and to fix to the chest wall and, unlike autografts, do not require the patient to undergo an additional incision and procedure for harvesting the bone.