thoracoplasty

[thawr-uh-koh-plas-tee, thohr-]

noun

Surgery.

plural

thoracoplasties 

1. the operation removing selected portions of the ribs to collapse part of the underlying lung or an abnormal pleural space, usually in the treatment of tuberculosis.

thoracoplasty

/ ˈθɔːrəkəʊˌplæstɪ /

noun

1. plastic surgery of the thorax

2. surgical removal of several ribs or a part of them to permit the collapse of a diseased lung, used in cases of pulmonary tuberculosis and bronchiectasis

Word History and Origins

Origin of thoracoplasty¹

First recorded in 1885–90; thoraco- + -plasty

Example Sentences

He began to talk about thoracoplasty.

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