Effectiveness of muscle coverage to manage osteomyelitis of very late onset in the irradiated chest wall

[Musculocutaneous grafting in the treatment of irradiation-induced chest osteomyelitis]

OBJECTIVE

To report our own experience of one-stage surgical treatment of irradiation-induced osteomyelitis as a complication of radiotherapy for breast cancer (BC).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study included 25 patients with irradiation-induced chest osteomyelitis after previous radiotherapy for breast cancer. All patients were examined according to the same protocol. One-stage surgery with full-thickness resection of affected tissues and plastic closure of the wound was performed depending on localization of lesion and availability of plastic material.

RESULTS

Follow-up period ranged from 18 to 110 months (median 48 (19; 52) months). Complications were assessed according to Clavien-Dindo classification. Complications followed by antibacterial therapy and/or local treatment were observed in 8 (32%) out of 25 patients (95% CI 11.5-43.4). Marginal necrosis of musculoskeletal flap was registered in 4 (16%) patients. One (4%) patient required redo thoracomyoplasty after excision of necrotic tissues of musculocutaneous flap due to extensive tissue defect. Total necrosis of musculocutaneous flap was not noted. There were no fatal outcomes. Mean length of hospital-stay was 13 (10; 27) days in the group of musculocutaneous flap from latissimus dorsi muscle and 11 days (7; 24) in the group of rectus abdominis muscle. Good and satisfactory treatment outcomes after one-stage surgical treatment were achieved in 24 (96%) out of 25 patients (95% CI: 75-97.8).

CONCLUSION

Irradiation-induced chest osteomyelitis is still actual problem despite an improvement of modern medical equipment and accumulation of experience in radiotherapy. Surgery is preferable method of treatment. Comprehensive examination including contrast-enhanced chest CT with 3D reconstruction and Doppler ultrasound of vascular pedicle is valuable to determine type of resection and plastic technique. Simultaneous approach with resection and plastic closure of the wound is preferred for irradiation-induced chest osteomyelitis if sufficient amount of plastic material is available and contraindications for reconstructive surgery are absent.

Radiation-induced Osteomyelitis/Osteonecrosis of the Rib: SPECT/CT Imaging for Successful Surgical Management

Chronic radiation-induced osteomyelitis/necrosis of the rib was rarely encountered in breast cancer patients even before the era of breast-conserving therapy. Few studies have focused on how to evaluate the extent of rib osteomyelitis for surgical management. A 78-year-old woman who had received radiation therapy after a radical mastectomy due to breast cancer 30 years ago manifested a rib pain and chest skin ulcers. Because chest magnetic resonance imaging failed to visualize osteomyelitis of the rib, a wide-ranged rib resection was initially planned considering her radiation field. An additional imaging, 3-dimensional (3D) single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)/computed tomography (CT), was performed to obtain 3D virtual chest images highlighting the areas of inflammatory or necrotic bone tissues; her osteomyelitis was localized in the left anterior chest. A chest wall reconstruction was performed using a vascularized pedicled latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap on the left side after the resection of the ribs, part of the sternum, and costal cartilage with radical debridement of all necrotic tissues. The 3D SPECT/CT contributed to a safe chest wall reconstruction with a 40% reduction in resected bone and soft tissues when compared to the magnetic resonance imaging-based surgical plan. Pathology results showed no evidence of inflammation or necrosis in the surgical margin. No complication related to the reconstruction or no recurrence was observed during a postoperative 12-month follow-up. The present case suggested that 3D SPECT/CT can be applied to preoperative surgical planning related to bone diseases including osteomyelitis, traumas, bone tumors, and diabetic foot. The appropriate application of 3D SPECT/CT requires full validation through significant clinical experience.

Classification of chronic radiation-induced ulcers in the chest wall after surgery in breast cancers

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

To explore the methods of clinical classification in chronic radiation-induced ulcers in the chest wall (CRUCWs).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 64 patients with CRUCWs were treated. We divided the cases into 3 types (mild, moderate, or severe) according to their clinical manifestations. Conservative treatments, axial-pattern myocutaneous or local flaps, or filleted flaps were applied correspondingly.

RESULTS

The cases were divided as follows: mild (n = 11), moderate (n = 45), and severe (n = 8). Eight cases were cured by conservative surgical therapy. One case had a recurrence 6 months after conservative therapy and was cured by a latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap. The transferred flaps all survived, including 26 transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous flaps, 8 longitudinal rectus abdominis myocutaneous flaps, 6 latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flaps, 3 contralateral breast flaps, 5 lateral thoracic rotation flaps, and 7 filleted flaps. In 2 transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous flaps and 2 latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flaps, distal necrosis appeared in small areas. The resulting wounds were salvaged with skin graft and full healing was achieved.

CONCLUSION

CRUCWs can be divided into three types. Surgical methods should vary with distinguished classifications. The effective classification of CRUCWs has definite instructive significance on the selection of surgical approaches.

Improvement of ischemic or congested wound conditions by reconstruction with microsurgical flaps

BACKGROUND

Intractable chronic wounds share the basic problem of the environment being unfavorable for wound healing and prone to infection, inflammation, and recurrences. Microsurgical flap provides a healthy, well-vascularized normal tissue to compromised intractable environment, and promotes wound healing. In this report, we present the results of microsurgical flaps used for the reconstruction of chronic intractable conditions including chronic ulcer with an ischemic environment and pathologic lesions with a congestive environment.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From 1997 to 2015, 18 patients received microsurgical flaps for chronic intractable conditions. Among them, three patients had radiation ulcers with an ischemic environment and 15 had pathologic lesions with a congested environment, such as vascular malformations. Nine patients were male, and nine were female. The mean age was 31.9 years. All patients were treated using radical excision and reconstruction with microsurgical tissue transfer.

RESULTS

All flaps survived completely. Among three patients with radiation ulcers, two had minor wound disruptions, which were managed conservatively. No further episodes of infections or breakdowns occurred. Among 15 patients who had pathologic lesions, one suffered facial palsy of the forehead. No complications in terms of infection, or recurrences were noted, and resolution of the residual surrounding lesions was observed on follow-ups. No donor related problems occurred in any patients. The mean follow-up period was 10.7 years.

CONCLUSION

In this report, we present the results of reconstruction of chronic intractable conditions using microsurgical flaps. The reconstruction using microsurgical flaps was clinically successful, with long-term improvement of surrounding tissues and no recurrence.

Reconstruction of severely infected gluteal osteoradionecrosis using negative-pressure wound therapy and latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flaps

Radiotherapy is mandatory for aggressive cancer treatment. Unfortunately, the high-energy radiation used can lead to severe osteoradionecrosis. Radical debridement of devitalized bone and soft tissue coupled with reconstruction using well-vascularized tissues is the accepted treatment for this condition. However, osteoradionecrosis cannot be controlled easily or rapidly. The aim of this study was to present the results of the use of serial negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) in combination with a latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap for treatment of gluteal osteoradionecrosis in a consecutive series of patients. Between January 2003 and December 2012, nine patients underwent reconstruction using serial NPWT and latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flaps. We applied negative-pressure dressings for at least 8 weeks. Final reconstruction was performed after the infection was controlled. The superior gluteal artery and vein were used as recipient vessels in all the cases. The mean interval between operation and radiation therapy was 28.3 ± 8.3 years, and the mean number of debridement performed was 6.3 ± 1. NPWT dressings were applied for 8-12 weeks (mean, 9.3 ± 2 weeks). The defects ranged in size from 14 × 8 cm to 18 × 15 cm. The flap size ranged from 15 × 10 cm to 18 × 15 cm. All flaps survived uneventfully except in one patient who experienced chronic seroma and wound dehiscence. There were no recurrences of osteomyelitis during the follow-up periods (mean, 14 ± 6.1 months). Based on the results obtained from this consecutive series of patients, we suggest that this methodology may provide an alternative approach for the treatment of severe osteoradionecrosis of the gluteal region.