Open repair of pectus excavatum and carinatum deformities with minimal cartilage resection.
BACKGROUND
Numerous modifications of the Ravitch open repair of pectus excavatum (PE) and carinatum (PC) have been used by surgeons with inconsistent results.


METHODS
During a 3-year period, 275 consecutive patients underwent open repair of PE and PC using a new less invasive technique. A small chip of costal cartilage was resected medially and laterally from each deformed cartilage, allowing it to barely touch the sternum and rib (laterally) after the sternum had been elevated or depressed, and twisted to the desired position. A support strut used for all patients was routinely removed within 6 months.


RESULTS
With mean follow-up of 17 months, all but 5 patients regarded the results as very good or excellent. There were no major complications or deaths.


CONCLUSIONS
Open repair using minimal cartilage resection is effective for all variations of PE and PC in patients of all ages, causes only mild pain, and produces good physiologic and cosmetic results.
Fonkalsrud
Eric W
EW
Department of Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, 10833 Le Conte Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA. efonkalsrud@mednet.ucla.edu
Mendoza
Julianne
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002356:Cartilage / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004954:Esthetics; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005660:Funnel Chest / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010149:Postoperative Pain; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013249:Sternum / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000601:surgery*; D013908:Thoracotomy / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome