Background: Surgery has been the classical treatment of pectus carinatum (PC), though compressive orthotic braces have shown successful results in recent years. We propose a non-operative approach using a lightweight, patient- controlled dynamic chest-bracingdevice. Materials and Methods: Eighteen patients with PC were treated between July 2008 and June 2009. The treatment involved fitting of the brace, which was worn for at least 20 hours per day for 6 months. Their degree of satisfaction (1, no correction; 4, remarkable correction) was measured at 12 months after the initiation of the treatment. Results: Thirteen (72.2%) patients completed the treatment (mean time, 4.9±1.4 months). In patients who completed the treatment, the mean overall satisfaction score was 3.73±0.39. The mean satisfaction score was 4, and there was no recurrence of pectus carinatum in patients who underwent the treatment for at least 6 months. Minimal recurrence of pectus carinatum after removal of the compressive brace occurred in 5 (38.5%) patients who stoppedwearing the compressive brace at 4 months. Conclusion: Compressive bracing results in a significant improvement in PC appearance in patients with an immature skeleton. However, patient compliance and diligent follow-up appear to be paramount for the success of this method of treatment. We currently offer this approach as a first-line treatment for PC. © The Korean Society forThoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. 2012.
CITATION STYLE
Jung, J., Chung, S. H., Cho, J. K., Park, S. J., Choi, H., & Lee, S. (2012). Brace compression for treatment of pectus carinatum. Korean Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, 45(6), 395–400. https://doi.org/10.5090/kjtcs.2012.45.6.396
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