Chest wall malformation: Pectus Carinatum
Article written by Dr. Gastón Ricardo Elmo
This deformity is more common in men than women and appears during childhood or adolescence.
The Pectus Carinatum, also called Keel Thorax or Pigeon Chest, is a malformation where the Sternum is displaced outward along with a part of the Coastal Cartilages.
Problems associated with this malformation
It is usually asymptomatic, although it is common for children to complain of pain in this area due to frequent trauma. The main disorder that we see in these children is the psychosocial component and the alteration of the body scheme.
How is it treated?
At present, the treatment is unique, it will depend on the situation of each patient. As a choice, the Specialist chooses non-surgical correction through the use of a chest compressor that is tailored to each person and that corrects the defect progressively.
When the surgical decision is made there are several alternatives, which, in the same way, depend on each case. The options are:
1- Conventional Surgery with Resection of Costales Cartilages and Sternum Fracture
2- Minimally Invasive Surgery, where a prosthesis with two small lateral incisions is placed