Current treatment strategies and prospects for chest wall defect repair and reconstruction

Chest wall defect is relatively uncommon in clinical practice, however, their etiologies are diverse. Particularly in cases involving large defect, the absence of effective repair and reconstruction can result in a series of pathological changes, including softening of the chest wall and respiratory abnormalities.The outcomes of chest wall reconstruction surgery are influenced by numerous factors, with surgical technique, specific methods, and chosen materials being critical components. As our understanding of chest wall defect deepens, coupled with ongoing advancements in reconstructive surgical techniques and the innovation of new reconstruction materials, the repair of many previously unmanageable chest wall defect has become feasible. This review aims to analyze the current literature on this topic and to select several representative strategies for chest wall defect reconstruction for detailed discussion.