Surgical correction of pectus excavatum and carinatum

The use of sternal wedge osteotomy in pectus surgery: when is it necessary?

BACKGROUND

The Ravitch procedure is a well-established surgical procedure for correction of chest wall deformities. Sternal wedge osteotomy is an important part of this procedure. We studied the incidence of wedge osteotomy with respect to the type of chest wall deformity in patients undergoing surgical correction with the use of a recently developed chest wall stabilization system.

METHODS

A total of 47 patients, 39 (83%) male and 8 (17%) female with a mean age of 14.9 ± 2.1 years, underwent the Ravitch procedure. Twenty-four (51.1%) had pectus carinatum, 19 (40.4%) had pectus excavatum, and 4 (8.5%) had pectus arcuatum. A conventional or oblique sternal wedge osteotomy was performed as indicated, followed by chest wall stabilization using the MedXpert system.

RESULTS

Of the 47 patients, 27 (57.4%) had a sternal wedge osteotomy. All cases of pectus arcuatum and redo cases underwent sternal wedge osteotomy. Pectus excavatum cases tended to have a greater incidence of wedge osteotomy compared to pectus carinatum cases (68.4% vs. 41.7%, p = 0.052). Patients with more resected ribs had a greater rate of wedge osteotomy (63.4%) compared to those with fewer resected ribs (16.7%, p = 0.043).

CONCLUSIONS

A sternal wedge osteotomy is more commonly performed in patients with pectus excavatum compared to those with pectus carinatum. All redo and pectus arcuatum cases need a wedge osteotomy for proper correction. Wedge osteotomy is very likely in more aggressive corrections with more rib resections.

Intervenção precoce da fisioterapia no péctus excavatum: dois casos clinicos em pediatria

O objetivo deste trabalho é descrever os efeitos da intervenção fisioterapêutica precoce em duas crianças com péctus excavatum (PEX), segundo a análise de parâmetros posturais e aspectos de radiografia torácica. Realizou-se um estudo de caso com duas crianças com PEX, ambas acompanhadas regularmente pela equipe de fisioterapia de um hospital universitário, sendo um dos casos do gênero feminino, com um ano e oito meses e PEX do tipo amplo na deformidade simétrica, e o segundo do gênero masculino, com PEX do tipo amplo na deformidade simétrica aguda, com dez meses de idade. O protocolo de tratamento constituiu-se de alongamentos dos músculos peitoral e serrátil, fortalecimento do músculo abdominal, manobras de pressão negativa e seguimento com orientações domiciliares. Por radiografia torácica, observou-se melhora na depressão do esterno e no padrão postural dos lactentes, sem progressão do PEX nos dois casos. Concluímos que a intervenção precoce da fisioterapia nesses dois casos pareceu retardar a evolução do PEX, minimizando as deformidades. No entanto, os efeitos dessa terapêutica precisam ser investigados com melhor qualidade metodológica, com amostras maiores e mais métodos precisos de avaliação, viabilizando evidências mais substanciais no acompanhamento fisioterapêutico do PEX infantil.

Minimal access treatment of pectus carinatum: a preliminary report

BACKGROUND

Unlike the minimal access repair of pectus excavatum (PE), a minimal access repair of pectus carinatum (PC) has not been established. This initial experience reports the correction of PC using a minimal access technique in five patients.

METHODS

The procedure was performed by insertion of a pectus bar through either bilateral or only left midaxillary incision. The pectus bar was placed so that the elevated sternum could be depressed. Thoracoscopy was not employed during the procedures and no stabiliser plates were used. On completion of the procedure, a chest tube was inserted into the thoracic cavity to evacuate the air from the thoracic cavity followed by wound closure.

RESULTS

The operation time ranged from 75 to 110 min. The chest tube was removed on the second postoperative day and the patients were discharged between the fifth and seventh postoperative day. There was one dislocation in which the bar was finally removed, and in three patients a prolapse of the end of the strut through intercostal space necessitated refixation using wires.

CONCLUSION

Despite a small series, this method offers a minimal access repair of PC, which is comparable to the technique used for PE. The invasiveness of our method is obviously far less, than of those different open surgical techniques performed worldwide presently. Our postoperative results warrant the application of this technique in patients with PC.

The Calgary protocol for bracing of pectus carinatum: a preliminary report

BACKGROUND

The optimal treatment of pectus carinatum (PC) deformities is unclear. We propose a nonoperative approach using a lightweight, patient-controlled dynamic chest-bracing device.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

With ethical approval, 24 patients with PC were treated at the Alberta Children's Hospital between January 1998 and April 2005. There were 6 (25%) females and 18 (75%) males, with a mean age of 12.9 years at the onset of treatment. Treatment involved fitting of a lightweight, patient-controlled chest brace, worn for 23 hours per day (correction phase [CP]) until the convex deformity was corrected. Following correction of the deformity, bracing was reduced to 8 hours per day (maintenance phase) until axial skeletal maturation ceased. Monitoring was done by measurement of the external pectus carinatum protrusion as well as subjective patient and surgeon appraisal of appearance and exercise tolerance.

RESULTS

Nineteen (79.2%) patients have completed initial treatment (mean CP time, 4.3 +/- 2.1 months). There were 3 patients (12.5%) who were noncompliant, and 2 (8.3%) are still in the initial CP phase of therapy. Fourteen (58.3%) patients are presently in maintenance phase, nocturnally braced, and 2 (8.3%) have completed therapy. In patients completing initial treatment, the protrusion pectus carinatum protrusion (pre 22 +/- 6 vs post 6.0 +/- 6.2) and subjective appearance (change + 1.8+/-0.4) showed a significant improvement (P < .001 for both) with no change in exercise tolerance.

CONCLUSION

Compressive bracing results in a significant subjective and objective improvement in PC appearance in skeletally immature patients. However, patient compliance and diligent follow up appear to be paramount for the success of this method of treatment. Further studies are required to show the durability of this method of treatment.

Recurrent chest wall anomalies

Chest wall anomalies are a heterogeneous group of malformations requiring repair. Recurrence and the need for secondary repair may occur. Congenital anomalies, including bifid sternum, pentalogy of Cantrell, Jeunes's syndrome and Poland's anomaly, rarely recur. Pectus carinatum may recur in the original surgical area or an adjacent area and most often recurs in patients who undergo repair before completion of teenage growth. Pectus excavatum may recur in approximately 5% of patients. Simple recurrence, floating sternum, or Acquired Jeune's syndrome may result. All of these would require reoperation. Each chest wall anomaly recurrence requires an individualized approach to timing and type of repair. Overall excellent results should be obtained for operative repair of recurrences.

Repair of Recurrent Pectus Deformities

A paucity of information is available regarding the surgical repair of recurrent pectus deformities (RPD). From 1993 through 2001 35 patients ranging in age from 6 to 51 years (mean, 23 years) underwent repair of RPD a mean of 11 years after the original repair: modified Ravitch repair (31), prosthetic implantation (three), and Nuss procedure (one). All patients had accompanying symptoms including decreased stamina (76%), chest discomfort (53%), asthma (33%). The repair performed was dependent on the findings at operation. A modified Ravitch procedure with Adkins strut was performed for 21 patients. Three had reattachment of mobile costal cartilages and/or xiphoid process to the sternum; three patients had autologous bone or cartilage grafts, three had muscular reconstruction, and two had resection of a localized cartilage protrusion. Three patients could not be reconstructed safely. Very good to excellent results were achieved for 32 patients (mean follow-up, 24.8 months). There were no deaths or major complications. Minor complications occurred in five patients. The mean blood loss was 105 mL. The mean hospital stay was 2.8 days. We conclude that although it is technically difficult RPD can be repaired with low morbidity, short hospital stay, and very good physiologic and cosmetic results.

The 're-do' chest wall deformity correction

BACKGROUND

A small percentage of patients who undergo surgical correction of a chest wall deformity will have results so unsatisfactory that a second procedure, the so-called "re-do," will be required.

CONCLUSIONS

The literature contains very little information regarding the technique and results of these procedures. Based on experience with 18 "re-do" procedures, the authors believe that recurrent deformities should be surgically corrected. Although this is a somewhat diverse group based on age at the first and second procedure, type of original operative procedure, and interval between the procedures, the operative approach is standard, and the results are predictable.

Pectus carinatum successfully treated with bracing. A case report

We report the case of a 14 year old girl who desired treatment for a cosmetically objectionable pectus carinatum deformity. She was initially managed with a corrective underarm body cast for six weeks followed by full-time bracing for seven months. Subsequently, she was braced only at night for another eight months. Seven years after the onset of treatment she had an excellent result without recurrence of deformity. In a well-motivated, skeletally immature individual bracing can be an effective treatment for cosmetically displeasing pectus carinatum.

A simplified approach to the repair of pediatric pectus deformities

For the past 14 years, a simplified operation utilizing a metal strut for internal fixation has been used to repair pectus anomalies in 123 children. Subperichondrial cartilage resection is preformed through small incisions in the pectoral muscles. No sternal osteotomy required. A malleable strut is passed transsternally and removed in four to six months, frequently under local anesthesia. All children who underwent this procedure were discharged within five to six days, and no transfusions were necessary. The use of the technique has shortened operative time and decreased the necessity for extensive postoperative pulmonary physiotherapy. In 75 children followed for over 5 years, cosmetic results have been excellent, and self-image has improved substantially. In only 1 child was there a recurrence impressive enough to warrant reoperation.