A new surgical method for repair of funnel chest.

We have devised a new surgical procedure for the repair of funnel chest deformity, which we have used in 148 of our 154 patients. The procedure involves resection of the deformed thoracic wall, including ribs and sternum, rib-sternal turnover, and anastomosis of the internal thoracic artery and veins. Several preoperative and postoperative examinations, such as bone biopsy, sternal puncture and indium chloride test, revealed definite signs of living tissue. This procedure results in minimal secondary deformity postoperatively and is indicated for adults as well as children.