New material for Nuss procedure.

The Nuss procedure for pectus excavatum repair has been considered an acceptable method in terms of its decreased invasiveness and excellent cosmetic results. Although a steel bar is usually used for elevating the sternum, we used a titanium alloy plate for pectus excavatum repair for the first time. The characteristics of this plate are that 1) it comes out translucently on X-rays, 2) MRI examination is possible because titanium will not be magnetized, and 3) it is possible to go through the security checkpoint at the airport without setting off the metal detector. Furthermore, the titanium alloy is highly elastic, which reduces complications such as dislocation, and it excels in the conformity to organization. Patients who have received the Nuss operation are forced to somewhat limit their daily life for two or three years until the bar is removed. A plate made from titanium alloy resolves this problem because of its material and it is thought to be an ideal candidate for elevating the sternum during the Nuss operation.