Chest wall deformities.
BACKGROUND
Pectus deformities and atypical costal anomalies are congenital thoracic wall defects that can cause a marked cosmetic defect with attendant psychological trauma and limited physical performance.


METHODS
We reviewed 43 patients with chest wall deformities, 24 (55.8%) were pectus excavatum, 13 (30.2%) pectus carinatum and 6 (14%) atypical costal anomalies, in the last sixteen years. There were nine female and 34 (79.1%) male patients. The mean age of the patients was 14.4 years (range, 5 to 23). Scoliosis (13.5%), Poland's syndrome (5.4%), Marfan's syndrome (5.4%), neurofibromatosis (2.7%), atrial septal defect (2.7%) and mitral valve prolapse (13.5%) were associated with pectus deformities. The modified Ravitch's technique was used in pectus cases. Concomitant surgery was performed in two patients with pectus carinatum.


RESULTS
The complications of pectus deformity repair were pneumothorax (24.3%), wound infection (8.1%), and local tissue necrosis (2.7%). There was no major recurrence, while minor recurrence rate was 10.8%. There was no mortality.


CONCLUSIONS
Timely surgical procedures for the treatment of pectus deformities result in an excellent cosmetic outcome and improve cardiorespiratory function, providing both physical and psychological benefits.
Akçali
Y
Y
Dept. of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Erciyes University, Medical Faculty, Kayseri, Turkey.
Ceyran
H
H
Hasdiraz
L
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D019616:Thoracic Surgical Procedures; D013909:Thorax / Q000002:abnormalities*