Early correction of the thoracic deformity of Poland's syndrome in children with the latissimus dorsi muscle flap: long term follow-up of two cases.

For treatment of the costo-sternal ridge that is sometimes caused by the missing pectoral muscles in Poland's syndrome, the latissimus dorsi muscle can be transposed as a functional substitute. This transposition should be carried out in early childhood as soon as the deformity becomes visible. Two patients have been observed after this procedure for 13 and 10 years respectively and show no evidence that the transposition of the latissimus dorsi caused any skeletal changes in the spine or impaired shoulder motion. The procedure is very efficient in correcting the chest wall deformity.