OBJECTIVETo evaluate the therapeutic effect of pedicled muscular flaps combined with partial thoracotomy for treatment of pythorax-resulted wounds and defects.

METHODS35 cases with pythorax-resulted refractory infected wound and dead space, were retrospectively analyzed. The wound and dead space were eliminated with pedicled muscular flaps, including latissimus dorsi muscular flaps and serratus anterior muscle flaps in 21 patients, pectoralis major muscle flaps with rectus muscle flaps in 8 patients, latissimus dorsi muscul flaps and vertical rectus muscle flaps in other 6 patients.

RESULTS34 flaps survived completely except for 1 verticle rectus muscular flap with partial necrosis at distal end. Primary healing was achieved in 29 cases. The other 6 cases were discharged with drainage. Among the 6 cases, 3 cases healed spontaneously, 2 cases underwent reoperation, 1 case need long-term drainage in the fistula.

CONCLUSIONPedicled muscular flap, combined with partial thoracotomy can effectively treat refractory wound and dead space resulted by pythorax.