23 - Correction of Poland Syndrome Breast Deformity

Abstract

Poland syndrome is an association of malformations that involve most frequently one side of the thoracic wall and sometimes the ipsilateral hand. It is not life-threatening but it can have great impact on the psycho-social status of the affected individual, and this is the reason why, usually, patients consult at a young age. Being a complex malformation syndrome there are various surgical techniques that have been developed with more or less satisfactory results. In this chapter, we are going to develop different treatment options for Poland syndrome, their indications and contraindications, advantages and disadvantages, and also our preferred method of treatment. The main treatment options are described including bone thoracic wall reconstruction, personalized chest wall silicone implants, mammary implants, tissue expanders, pedicled latissimus dorsi flap, free flaps, breast lipomodeling (fat transfer) and pectoro-mammary flap. The advent of lipomodeling introduced a new tool in the treatment of this complex malformation, but most often the severe cases require an association of different surgical techniques for a satisfying result.