thoracoplasty: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Technical/Medical
Quick answer
What does “thoracoplasty” mean?
a surgical procedure that involves the removal or resection of ribs to collapse part of the underlying lung, historically used to treat tuberculosis or empyema.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
a surgical procedure that involves the removal or resection of ribs to collapse part of the underlying lung, historically used to treat tuberculosis or empyema.
In modern contexts, it can also refer to reconstructive chest wall surgery to correct deformities, stabilize the chest after trauma, or provide access for other thoracic procedures.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Usage is identical in professional medical contexts.
Connotations
Historically associated with pre-antibiotic era treatments for TB. Modern use carries connotations of major reconstructive or radical surgery.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general language, confined to surgical textbooks, historical medical papers, and specialized thoracic surgical discussions.
Grammar
How to Use “thoracoplasty” in a Sentence
Patient underwent thoracoplasty for condition.Surgeon performed thoracoplasty on patient.Thoracoplasty was indicated due to X.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “thoracoplasty” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The thoracoplasty approach was deemed necessary.
- He had a thoracoplasty scar spanning his lateral chest.
American English
- The thoracoplasty procedure is rarely indicated today.
- She reviewed the thoracoplasty outcomes from the 1940s.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Exclusively in medical history, thoracic surgery, and pulmonology literature.
Everyday
Never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Core term in thoracic surgical operative notes, historical reviews, and discussions of complex chest wall management.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “thoracoplasty”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “thoracoplasty”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “thoracoplasty”
- Misspelling as 'thoracoplasy' (missing 't').
- Confusing with 'thoracotomy' (making an incision into the chest, not necessarily removing ribs).
- Using in non-medical contexts.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but very selectively. Its historical use for tuberculosis has been obsolete since the 1950s. Modern indications include complex chest wall reconstruction after trauma or tumor resection, and managing chronic empyema spaces not amenable to simpler techniques.
A thoracotomy is an incision made to gain access to the organs within the chest (like the lungs or heart). Thoracoplasty specifically involves the removal or reshaping of ribs, often as a definitive treatment to collapse a space or reconstruct the chest wall. A thoracotomy might be performed as part of a thoracoplasty.
Historically, significant morbidity included severe chronic pain, pronounced chest wall deformity (scoliosis), shoulder girdle dysfunction, and paradoxical chest wall movement. Modern techniques aim to minimize these.
Yes. Examples include extrapleural thoracoplasty (outside the pleural lining), plombage thoracoplasty (inserting filler material), and more modern muscle-sparing or vertical expandable prosthetic titanium rib (VEPTR) procedures for congenital deformities.
a surgical procedure that involves the removal or resection of ribs to collapse part of the underlying lung, historically used to treat tuberculosis or empyema.
Thoracoplasty is usually technical/medical in register.
Thoracoplasty: in British English it is pronounced /ˌθɔː.rə.kəʊˈplæs.ti/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌθɔːr.ə.koʊˈplæs.ti/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: THORACO (chest) + PLASTY (surgical repair/reshaping) = surgical reshaping of the chest wall by removing ribs.
Conceptual Metaphor
A radical architectural revision of the chest's bony framework.
Practice
Quiz
Thoracoplasty is most accurately described as: