Ten years of clinical experience in the open surgical treatment of chest wall deformities.

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to present a 10-year single-center experience and evaluate perioperative and mid-term outcomes of open and combined surgical treatment for chest wall deformities.

METHODS

A total of 45 patients treated between January 2011 and December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed for age, sex, deformity type, surgical procedure, complications, hospital stay, and patient satisfaction. Statistical analyses were performed.

RESULTS

The cohort included 32 males and 13 females with a mean age of 14.14 years (median: 15, range: 12-20). Pectus carinatum was the most common deformity. Open surgery alone was performed in 31 patients (68.9%), combined with the Nuss procedure in 13 (28.9%), and with the Abramson procedure in 1 (2.2%). A significant association was found between deformity type and surgical method. The mean hospital stay was 4.22 days (median: 4, range: 2-10). Early complications occurred in 6.7% of patients, while recurrence was observed in 4.4%. Postoperative satisfaction scores were significantly higher than preoperative scores.

CONCLUSION

Open surgery is an effective and reliable option for chest wall deformities, particularly in complex cases. Although minimally invasive techniques have advantages, surgical choice should be individualized based on patient age, deformity type, and surgical history.