A Nondivided Intercostal Muscle Flap Further Reduces Pain of Thoracotomy: A Prospective Randomized Trial

An ICM flap reduces pain. Harvesting and then leaving the ICM flap intact instead of cutting it before rib spreading further reduced thoracotomy pain. This technique, when added to rib drilling, leads to reduced pain on postoperative weeks 3 to 12, to quicker return to baseline activity, and lessens the need for analgesics.