Polands Syndrome Treatment

Poland syndrome is a genetic defect characterized by underdeveloped chest muscles and webbing of the fingers. It affects one side of the body, and, according to medicinenet.com, Poland syndrome affects the right side twice as often as the left. Males are also more likely to be born with Poland syndrome than females are. Chest deformities often go unnoticed until puberty when lack of muscle development on one side becomes more apparent, especially in females. Treatment for Poland syndrome involves reconstructive surgery to correct deformities and create a more aesthetically pleasing and symmetrical appearance.

Surgery

• Plastic surgeons can perform reconstructive surgery on the hands to remove excess skin and separate webbed fingers relatively early in life. Males with Poland syndrome can undergo corrective plastic surgery for chest asymmetry as early as 12 or 13 years of age. Breast surgery is typically delayed in females until after puberty to give the breasts time to develop fully. Female breast reconstruction surgery prior to full breast maturation can result in further asymmetry if the normal breast outgrows the breast affected by Poland syndrome.

  In males, a surgeon will usually take a portion of chest muscle from the unaffected side to transplant in the underdeveloped side, creating a more symmetrical appearance. If there is not sufficient chest muscle for a transplant, the surgeon may make a small incision in the center of the patient's back to harvest a portion of the latissimus muscle to place in the chest.

  Female reconstructive chest surgery usually involves an implant placed in the affected breast to match the size and shape of the unaffected side. A surgeon may place an expander under the skin on the side affected by Poland syndrome during adolescence. Since the placement of an implant is usually postponed until a female is 18 or 19 years old, the expander helps create a more balanced appearance during development and stretches the skin, making it easier for the chest to accommodate the future implant. Once breast development is complete, the surgeon will create a silicone or saline breast implant to match the unaffected breast. As with males, a portion of the latissimus muscle may also be transplanted into the chest of females.

  Nipple reconstruction surgeries are sometimes needed to create a uniform appearance. Tattooing can also help achieve a similar appearance between the nipples and areolas.

Complications

• Surgical treatment for Poland syndrome symptoms is usually successful. Complications include those common with other cosmetic surgeries, such as excessive bleeding, slow healing, reaction to anesthesia and failure to achieve the desired look. Females who receive an implant may experience the same complications and risks as other breast augmentation patients, including implant displacement, implant deflation, infection, loss of breast and nipple sensitivity and difficulty breast feeding.