Chest Wall Deformities
Overview
Valley Children’s Pediatric Surgery team provides specialized diagnosis and treatment for chest wall deformities in children and adolescents, including pectus excavatum and pectus carinatum. Pectus excavatum (PE) is also known as sunken chest because it does present as a sunken appearance on the chest due to abnormal growth of the sternum and cartilage. It is the most common chest wall deformity, affecting approximately 1 in 40 children.
Our comprehensive Chest Wall Deformity Program offers expert evaluation, non-surgical therapies and advanced surgical correction designed to improve breathing, physical performance, appearance and self-confidence.
Chest Wall Deformities We Treat
Our pediatric surgery team treats a series of chest wall deformities, including:
- Pectus excavatum (sunken chest)
- Pectus carinatum (protruding chest)
- Complex chest wall asymmetries
- Associated syndromes (e.g., Marfan, Ehlers-Danlos)
Signs and Symptoms
Chest wall deformities, including pectus excavatum, can be identified by a series of symptoms, including:
- Shortness of breath
- Decreased exercise tolerance
- Fatigue with physical activity
- Body image concerns and psychosocial distress
While some patients are asymptomatic, many experience physical and emotional symptoms that may worsen during adolescence and growth spurts.
Treatment
Valley Children’s offers personalized treatment plans based on your child’s age, severity of deformity and symptoms.
- Non-Surgical Treatment
- Vacuum Bell Therapy
- A non-invasive suction device used to gradually elevate the chest wall. This option is best suited for younger patients and those with mild to moderate deformities.
- Vacuum Bell Therapy
- Surgical Treatment
- Nuss Procedure for Pectus Excavatum
- The Nuss procedure is a minimally invasive surgery used to correct sunken chest. It involves placing a curved metal bar behind the sternum to gently lift the chest into a more natural position.
- Typically performed during early puberty when the chest wall is most flexible
- Bar remains in place for approximately two to three years
- Performed with thoracoscopic guidance for precision and safety
- Cryoablation pain management is used during surgery to significantly reduce post-operative pain and minimize the need for narcotic medications
- Nuss Procedure for Pectus Excavatum