Surgical treatment of pectus carinatum.

Pectus carinatum, just like its sister deformity pectus excavatum, is a condition with an undefined developmental mechanism and debated surgical techniques. Elongation of the costal cartilages and elongation and anterior displacement of the sternum characterize the different varieties of pectus carinatum. Repair of the anomaly involves positional correction as well as the shortening of the sternum and the maintenance of its corrected position by action of the rectus abdominis and pectoralis muscles.