A meta-analysis comparing muscle-sparing and posterolateral thoracotomy.

We compared outcomes of posterolateral thoracotomy vs muscle-sparing thoracotomy after open thoracic operations. Twelve trials were included, comprising 571 patients in the muscle-sparing thoracotomy group and 512 patients in the posterolateral thoracotomy group. There was significantly improved shoulder internal rotation (weighted mean difference, -1.28; 95% confidence interval, -2.45 to -0.11; p = 0.03) and pain scores on day 7 (weighted mean difference, -0.76; 95% confidence interval, -1.26 to -0.27; p = 0.002) but higher seroma rates (odds ratio, 8.26; 95% confidence interval, 2.16 to 31.56; p = 0.002) in the muscle-sparing thoracotomy group compared with the posterolateral thoracotomy group. We advocate using muscle-sparing thoracotomy, especially on patients dependant on quicker recovery of shoulder function.