Reconstruction with antibiotic loaded single-side gore-tex "Tartine" methyl-methacrylate cementoplasty for pediatric chest wall reconstruction: A 10-case series.

INTRODUCTION

Chest wall reconstruction in children after large resection of tumors may be performed with rigid or soft materials. Cementoplasty is commonly used with the "Sandwich" method i.e. gore-tex meshes surrounding both faces of the cement.

HYPOTHESIS: Is antibiotic loaded single-side gore-tex "Tartine" methyl-methacrylate cementoplasty an interesting alternative to the double-side "sandwich" method for chest wall reconstruction?

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

Consecutive patients who were treated from 2011 to 2023 in our hospital were included.

RESULTS

Among the ten children treated with a median 5.6 years follow-up, there were no surgical complications related to the reconstruction, loss of function, infections, post operative complications (versus 22.7% in meta-analysis encompassing the 50 rigid reconstructions reported worldwide) nor scoliosis (versus 25%). Three patients have an asymmetric chest wall appearance.

DISCUSSION: "Tartine" cementoplasty is a simple, low-cost technique for pediatric chest wall reconstruction. It is well tolerated and checks key demands for chest wall reconstructions.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV; retrospective case series.