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Chest Wall Reconstruction Center

Chest Wall Injury and Reconstruction Program

The Chest Wall Injury and Reconstruction Program at CHI Health Creighton University Medical Center - Bergan Mercy provides operative and non-operative care to patients with chest wall injury, thoracic trauma, and thoracic pathology of the lung and chest wall. We focus on surgical stabilization and chest wall reconstruction of both acute and chronic chest wall injuries and disorders.

We have been recognized as one of the few centers across the world as a collaborative center of the Chest Wall Injury Society due to our multidisciplinary approach to patient management, our dedication to research in the field, and our team’s commitment to achieving optimal outcomes for both operative and non-operative management of patients.

Our multidisciplinary team provides high quality, evidence-based care of thoracic injuries and disorders.

Conditions We Treat

  • Non-displaced Rib Fractures
  • Displaced Rib Fractures, 
  • Flail Chest 
  • Lung Herniation
  • Chronic Nonunion rib fractures 
  • Slipped Rib Syndrome 
  • Chest Wall Deformity
  • Sternal Fractures 
  • Sternal Instability

  • Pneumothorax
  • Spontaneous pneumothorax
  • Hemothorax
  • Infected Hemothorax
  • Loculated Hemothorax
  • Empyema 
  • Pleural Effusion 
  • Diaphragmatic Injury

Services Provided at the Chest Wall Injury and Reconstruction Program

  • Chest Wall Resection and Reconstruction
  • Chest Wall Stabilization for Rib and Sternal Fractures
  • Non-Union of Rib Fractures
  • Slipped Rib Syndrome
  • Lung Herniation
  • Sternal Dehiscence Management (when a previous sternotomy repair fails)
  • Lung Decortication (removing adhesion from lung to other structures in the chest)
  • Pleurodesis (treatment of spontaneous or persistent pneumothorax)
  • Thoracotomy (open chest surgery)
  • Minimally Invasive Video Assisted Thorascopy (minimally invasive chest surgery)
  • Cryoalblation of Ribs for pain management for acute and chronic rib fractures
  • Multi-modal pain management for chest wall fractures and disorders
  • Diaphragmatic hernia repair

Our Team

The Chest Wall Injury and Reconstruction Team includes trauma surgeons, advance practice providers and supporting surgeons.

Contact Us

Contact the Chest Wall Injury and Reconstruction Program at CHI Health Creighton University Medical Center – Bergan Mercy for more information or to discuss referrals at (402) 717-4909.