Muscle-sparing Vertical Thoracotomy in Children and Adolescents

Traditional posterolateral thoracotomy (PLT) is a painful and potentially morbid operation associated with an extensive recovery and a long, unsightly scar. In contrast, vertical thoracotomy (VT) is designed to spare muscles, avoid skin flaps, and minimize incision length, thereby limiting postoperative pain, hastening recovery, and improving scar cosmesis.