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Poland Syndrome

Poland syndrome is a birth defect that affects one in 30 births  000 and reaches two boys for one girl.

The common point in all patients with this syndrome is the absence of the upper part of the pectoralis major muscle, resulting in a hollow on the upper part of the thorax, and in women a hypotrophy of the breast on the same side (much smaller than the other).

This syndrome is in the vast majority of cases unilateral.

Why  ?

Because this malformation often causes major psychological suffering in young women and young men, who do not dare to undress, in a group or in private.

This operation restores the balance on both sides of the thorax and allows patients with the disease to quickly regain an uninhibited social life. The intervention is covered by Social Security.

How? 'Or' What  ?

In humans  :

To correct the muscular deficit, one can use either the technique of lipofilling (see corresponding chapter), or take a flap of latissimus dorsi in its pure muscular version, by an incision in the axillary hollow, which one then tilts of the back to the front, to put it in the position of the missing muscle.

In women  :

To correct mammary hypotrophy, a prosthesis is usually placed. We can also use the technique of lipofilling or flap to correct the muscle deficit. We can go so far as to combine the three techniques.

The operation takes place under general anesthesia with one to five nights of hospitalization.

Suites and result.

The consequences and the results depend on the technique used (see "  Suites and result  »Of the chapters corresponding to lipofilling and breast prosthesis).

The consequences of the flap are more painful, this is a relatively heavy surgery, and this intervention requires hospitalization of about a week. There may be lymph effusions requiring punctures.

The result will be final after six months.

Risks.

In addition to those related to general anesthesia, the main risks of this intervention are  :

• healing disorders,

• lymph effusion,

• the risks associated with prostheses and lipofilling described in the corresponding chapters.

The other complications, which are very rare, are detailed in the SoFCPRE information sheet.