Experimental reconstruction of chest wall defects with degradable biomaterial in dog / 中华胸心血管外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the application of a novel degradable biomaterial artificial chest wall as a chest wall prosthesis and explore the feasibility of its use in chest wall reconstruction. Methods A full-thickness chest wall defect of 10?10 cm was created in 8 dogs and then repaired with short chitin fiber reinforced polycaprolactone (PCL) plate. The situation of the implanted chest wall prosthesis and the progress of the regeneration of the chest wall tissue were observed dynamically postoperatively by X-ray, CT and histological examinations. Results No operative and peri-operative deaths were observed, no flail chest and paradoxical movement, no infection and severe complications occurred. Artificial chest wall prosthetic integrated tightly with chest wall ribs and muscle tissue around. New bone tissue obviously regenerated around both resection ends of the ribs in 4 months. The chest wall prosthesis was tightly enveloped by thick fibrous tissue in 6 months. Conclusion Degradable chitin fiber reinforced PCL biomaterial has excellent properties such as fine biocompatibility, optimal mechanical properties, fine flexibility and elasticity and translucent to X-rays. It is a prospective material for chest wall reconstruction.