Management of exposed hardware has included the removal of the hardware. However, if certain criteria are met--specifically, stable hardware, time of exposure less than 2 weeks, lack of infection, and location of hardware--salvage of the hardware with plastic surgical soft-tissue coverage may be a therapeutic option.

Presented is the case of a 61-year-old male patient with a chronic thoracic wall defect, including a bronchopleural fistula, after multiple resections of a desmoid tumor. After partial lung resection to remove the bronchopleural fistula, dead space was partially obliterated and the thoracic wall reconstructed with a free combined intra- and extrathoracic rectus abdominis muscle flap.