Can a sunken chest be fixed?

Pectus excavatum can be surgically repaired, but surgery is usually reserved for people who have moderate to severe signs and symptoms. People who have mild signs and symptoms may be helped by physical therapy. Certain exercises can improve posture and increase the degree to which the chest can expand.

How long does it take to recover from sunken chest surgery?

Most patients recover in six weeks, but precautions must be taken during exercise/sports. The bars will be removed as an outpatient procedure in two to three years.

Why do some men have sunken chests?

Pectus excavatum is a congenital deformity of the chest wall that causes several ribs and the breastbone (sternum) to grow in an inward direction. Usually, the ribs and sternum go outward at the front of the chest. With pectus excavatum, the sternum goes inward to form a depression in the chest.

Can pectus excavatum be fixed in adults?

Although the majority of patients with pectus excavatum undergo repair during childhood, there are no contraindications for repair in the adult. As will be described below, both the open Ravitch and Nuss type of repair can be successfully performed in the adult with excellent results.

How serious is pectus excavatum surgery?

While both the Nuss procedure and the modified Ravitch technique are safe and effective procedures, complications, although rare, can occur. Possible complications from surgical repair of pectus excavatum include: Pneumothorax (air around the lung). Bleeding.

How painful is pectus excavatum surgery?

Patients also experience chest and back pain. This pain may be intermittent and may or may not be associated with exercise. Although the exact cause of the pain is unknown, almost two thirds of patients whopresent for surgical pectus excavatum repair have a history of chest pain. Psychosocial effects.

Is pectus excavatum serious?

If pectus excavatum is not severe, you might only notice a small indentation in the chest. However, if it is more severe, the area around the sternum can look like it has been dented in several inches. Very severe cases of pectus excavatum can compress the lungs and heart, causing serious health risks.

What is the success rate of pectus excavatum surgery?

The outcomes of the repair were excellent in 504 patients, good in 105, fair in 28, poor in 2; good quality rate was 95.3%. Patients were followed up at 1, 3, 6 months and 1 year after surgery. The mean follow up time is 44.0±27.9 months (1-98 months).

Can pectus excavatum return after surgery?

Pectus excavatum (PE) can recur after both open and minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum (MIRPE) techniques. The cause of recurrence may differ based on the initial repair procedure performed.

What is the best age for pectus excavatum surgery?

Background: The ideal time to operate on pectus excavatum (PE) using the Nuss procedure (NP) is between 12 and 18 years of age, because it is more difficult to bend the sternum of older patients and they have more pain and complications.