The sternoclavicular joint is located at the cervicothoracic junction, where various types of lesions such as trauma, infection, inflammation and tumor can occur. Complex chest wall reconstruction involving the sternoclavicular joint occurs from time to time. Whether and how to reconstruct the sternoclavicular joint is a difficult problem for surgeons. At present, there is no unified standard for sternoclavicular joint resection and reconstruction. There are many materials and methods for sternoclavicular joint reconstruction. With the development of surgical techniques and treatment concepts, we have a new understanding of the anatomy, function, and surgical treatment of the sternoclavicular joint. This article primarily provides an overview of these developments.
Objective To investigate the current development status of chest wall surgery at all levels of hospitals in Sichuan Province, as well as to provide evidence for the promotion of chest wall surgery. Methods We conducted a questionnaire study to investigate chest wall surgery at all levels of hospitals in Sichuan Province and to collect suggestions for chest wall surgery development from thoracic surgeons attending the meeting of the Sichuan International Medical Exchange & Promotion Association from September 2021 to January 2022. Results A total of 128 questionnaires were issued, with 97 (75.8%) of them being valid. According to the survey results, hospitals with grade A secondary or higher in Sichuan Province performed chest wall surgery. Chest wall surgery accounted for 14.3% of thoracic surgery, with 70.4% being chest wall trauma surgeries, 11.6% being chest wall tumor surgeries, 10.5% being chest wall infection surgeries, and 7.5% being chest wall deformity surgeries. Chest wall surgery accounted for 9.3% of thoracic surgery in the grade A tertiary hospitals, primarily for chest wall trauma and tumor; 23.1% in grade B tertiary hospitals, primarily for chest wall trauma and tumor; and 50.7% in grade A secondary hospitals, primarily for chest wall trauma and infection. Totally 96.9% of hospitals supported the establishment of a subspecialty in chest wall surgery. Suggestions for advancing chest wall surgery included: enhancing communication and cooperation (e.g. holding academic conferences, training courses), the establishment of the chest wall surgery association or consortium, and the formulation of regulations and guidelines or consensus, etc. Conclusion Chest wall surgery has been performed at all levels of hospitals in Sichuan Province. The relevant guidelines can be made based on the related academic associations, thus boosting the development of chest wall surgery in the future.
Objective To compare the quality of life after laparoscopic and open surgery for gastric stromal tumor patients. Methods We collected the data of the patients undergoing the gastric stromal tumor surgery from May 2011 to August 2016 in West China Hospital of Sichuan University, and compared the basic data, complications, micturition time, hospital stay time, bleeding volume and hospitalization expenses. SF-36 scale was used to evaluate the quality of life. Then, SPSS 19.0 software was used for data analysis. Results Eighty nine patients involving 31 laparoscopic patients and 58 open surgery patients were included. There was no statistical significance in basic line between two groups. The laparoscopic group had shorter micturition time and hospital stay time, less intraoperative bleeding and lower hospitalization costs, the differences between two groups were statistically significant (P<0.05). But there were no significant differences between two groups in the operation time and postoperative complication rate. The SF-36 quality of life scale of laparoscopic group and open surgery group were 737.7±68.3 and 665.1±138.1, respectively. The laparoscopic surgery group had higher scores in validity (VT), social function (SF) and mental health (MH) than those in open surgery group with significant differences (P<0.05). Conclusion Laparoscopic surgery is safe and effective for the patients with stromal tumor. Patients in laparoscopic group have shorter recovery time and higher quality of life than open surgery group. Due to the limited of study design, more high quality studies are needed to verify above conclusion.