Purpose: Indications for surgical treatment for patients with pectus excavatum and carinatum are psychosocial issues, pulmonary or cardiac limitations or pain. When surgery is indicated in our institution, patients are treated with a modified thoracoplasty according to the Ravitch technique. In order to stabilize pectus excavatum, an allogenic bone strut is transplanted which does not require removal.
Patient and methods: Seventy-one patients with a mean age of 17 years who were treated for pectus deformities between 1997 and 2007 were evaluated retrospectively.
Results: The average period of follow-up was 5.3 years. Sixty-six percent of the patients suffered from pectus excavatum, 34% from pectus carinatum. One osseous revision had to be performed after overcorrection of pectus carinatum into pectus excavatum. Six minor complications occurred. At follow-up, the mean patient satisfaction score was 4.3 (scale 1-5). The Manchester Scar Scale resulted in 96% cosmetically well-healed scars. Clinically, 93% of the surgical results were rated good.
Conclusions: This study retrospectively shows that this modification of the Ravitch approach is a safe and effective treatment option for pectus deformities with long-term satisfactory results for the patients without the need for bar removal.