Latissimus dorsi muscle‐flap over Gore‐Tex patch for coverage of large thoracic defects in paediatric Ewing sarcoma

Primary rib involvement accounts for 16% of paediatric Ewing sarcoma (ES). Neo‐adjuvant chemotherapy and surgical tumor resection may leave large thoracic wall defects requiring complex reconstruction in a growing individual. We report our experience in three children aged 3, 10, and 12 years, in whom single‐stage resection and reconstruction were performed using a Gore‐Tex Dualmesh patch, covered by a latissimus dorsi rotation flap harvested in continuity with the thoracolumbar fascia. The youngest patient also had a vertical expandable prosthetic titanium rib (VEPTR) anchored to help prevent subsequent scoliosis throughout growth. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2009;52:679–681. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.