The Division of Pediatric General and Thoracic Surgery at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh cares for children with chest wall deformities. Our surgeons have years of experience in treating these conditions.
Chest wall deformities are congenital (inborn) disorders caused by abnormal development of the sternum and ribs. The ribs and sternum (breastbone) can grow inward (pectus excavatum) or outward (pectus carinatum), resulting in a sunken or protruding chest. These conditions can be mild or severe and can worsen during growth spurts.
Pediatric surgeons at UPMC Children's provide comprehensive care for children and young adults with chest wall deformities. We provide diagnosis and treatment, including surgical and nonsurgical options.
Do I Need a Referral for Chest Wall Deformity Care?
Your child typically will need a referral from their pediatrician to the Division of Pediatric General and Thoracic Care at UPMC Children's. Learn more about how to schedule a consultation.
What Services Are Provided for Chest Wall Deformities?
The Division of Pediatric General and Thoracic Surgery at UPMC Children's provides comprehensive care for chest wall deformities, from evaluation to treatment.
Our surgeons specialize in managing and treating chest wall deformities. We care for children and young adults with these conditions.
What conditions do you treat?
Conditions we treat include:
- Pectus carinatum — Also known as "chicken breast chest" or "pigeon chest," this condition occurs when the sternum and ribs grow outward, resulting in a protruding chest.
- Pectus excavatum — Also known as sunken chest or funnel chest, this condition occurs when the sternum and ribs grow inward, resulting in a hollow or concave chest. Pectus excavatum also can affect the heart and lungs, causing symptoms like heart palpitations, shortness of breath, and exercise intolerance.
Who can benefit from chest wall deformity care?
Children, teens, and young adults diagnosed with pectus carinatum or pectus excavatum can benefit from seeking care from UPMC experts.
Pectus carinatum and pectus excavatum can be mild or severe. With chest wall deformities, the chest's appearance can range from severely sunken to severely protruding and every degree in between.
For mild cases, treatment may not be necessary, and we can help you manage your condition. More severe cases may require surgery (for pectus excavatum) or nonsurgical bracing (for pectus carinatum).
Because of the chest's appearance, many people with chest wall deformities experience mental health or body image issues. If your condition is also affecting your mental health, you can benefit from treatment.
What Chest Wall Deformity Treatments Do You Offer?
The Division of Pediatric General and Thoracic Surgery can evaluate your child's chest wall deformity. We'll develop an individualized treatment plan to help them manage their condition.
Mild cases may not require treatment. But more severe cases often require surgical or nonsurgical intervention.
Nonsurgical bracing for pectus carinatum
A compression brace can help correct moderate to severe pectus carinatum. This treatment may be most effective in children and adolescents, as their chests are more pliable. Learn more about the diagnosis, symptoms, and treatment options.
Nuss procedure for pectus excavatum
The Nuss procedure is a surgery for moderate to severe pectus excavatum. It can help people whose pectus excavatum is causing heart and lung symptoms and/or those experiencing body image issues. Learn more about the procedure and who can benefit most from it.
The Ravitch procedure
The Ravitch procedure is a less common procedure for pectus excavatum and severe pectus carinatum.
Surgeons make a larger incision across the chest and remove the cartilage that's causing the deformity. They also repair or reshape the sternum. Additionally, in cases of pectus excavatum, they insert a metal bar behind the sternum, much like the Nuss procedure.
Over time, the cartilage will grow back to help keep the sternum in place. If a bar is inserted, it's later removed in an outpatient procedure.
What Can I Expect from UPMC Children's Division of Pediatric General and Thoracic Surgery?
The Division of Pediatric General and Thoracic Surgery at UPMC Children's Hospital will evaluate and manage your child's chest wall deformity.
On your first visit, our team will evaluate your child's condition.
This evaluation includes:
- Asking about their overall health, including physical and emotional symptoms.
- Evaluating the physical appearance of their chest.
- Ordering imaging, such as x-rays and CT scans, as necessary.
Based on the visit, we'll work with you and your child to determine a treatment plan. If your child's condition is mild, they may not need treatment. If their condition is moderate to severe, we'll discuss treatment options with you.
If your child has pectus excavatum and is a potential candidate for the Nuss procedure, we'll order a CT scan. We'll also order an echocardiogram and pulmonary function tests to see if the condition is affecting their heart and lungs.
It's important to involve your child in treatment discussions to determine whether they want and need treatment. We'll work with you and your child to implement the right treatment, whether it's nonsurgical or surgical.
What is a pediatric thoracic surgeon?
Pediatric thoracic surgeons specialize in treating conditions between the neck and abdomen. We treat both congenital and acquired conditions, such as chest wall deformities, lung disorders, and esophageal conditions.
We provide both nonsurgical and surgical treatment options, including advanced and minimally invasive techniques.
