Pectus Carinatum: Factors That Contribute to Success and Failure of Nonoperative Treatment.

BACKGROUND

Pectus carinatum is a congenital chest wall deformity characterized by protrusion ofthe sternum and ribs. External bracing has been the gold standard treatment for this condition for the past 20 years.

PURPOSE: The primary purpose of the study was to identify factors that contribute to treatment success of bracing for patients with pectus carinatum. The secondary aim was to identify the optimal age to recommend bracing for pectus carinatum.

METHODS

176 patients who were evaluated for a brace for pectus carinatum were contacted to participate in an online survey about their experience. A retrospective chart review was conducted on patients who participated in the survey.

RESULTS

Subjects rated themselves as more confident afterbracing(P=.002). Patients who hadfamily sup- port, and no documented complaints (P = .024) and (P = .009) respectively, were more likely to say they had made the right choice to wear the brace.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrated that family support and fewer complaints are predictors of success for the brace.