Use of a surgical sponge facilitates rib resection in flank incisions

Abstract

Dissection of the rib in a flank incision is often tedious and difficult. Entry into the pleural space and subcostal nerve injury are two frequent complications. In an effort to reduce the frequency of these complications and to facilitate the ease of rib dissection and resection, we describe a technique that uses a moistened surgical sponge to dissect free the posterior surface of the rib.