Flail chest secondary to excessive rib resection in idiopathic scoliosis: case report.

STUDY

DESIGN

Case report.

OBJECTIVES

To report a previously undescribed complication of scoliosis surgical treatment.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: None available.

METHODS

Clinical case analysis.

RESULTS

Excessive rib resection resulted in a permanent "flail" chest.

CONCLUSION

Rib resection ("costoplasty") is a valuable procedure for obtaining bone graft and for esthetic reduction of rib prominence, but excessive removal and especially done twice can produce major disability.