Pediatric Services
Pediatric Heart Center
Pectus deformity correction program
The bones and cartilage of the chest — pectus in medical terminology — can be subject to deformity disorders such as a caved-in or sunken appearance of the chest (sunken chest) and a protruding, carved-out appearance of the chest (pectus carinatum).
Our multidisciplinary team of specialists in pediatric thoracic surgery, pediatric cardiology, pulmonology and pediatric rehabilitation work together to develop the best treatment plan for children and their families dealing with chest deformities.
Conditions we treat
- Sunken chest, or pectus excavatum
- Pectus carinatum
Sunken chest is a deformity of the cartilage that connects the ribs to the breastbone. The deformed cartilage pulls the breastbone inward, giving the chest a caved in or sunken appearance. The condition occurs in about one in 800 children born in the United States each year and is three times more common among boys than girls.
Treatment options
Treatment may include minimally invasive surgical techniques and cardiothoracic surgery combined with the latest imaging technology. Our experienced team of specialists have treated chest deformities using:
- Traditional cardiothoracic surgery
- Bracing — an investigational method that uses magnets to corrects chest deformity the way braces correct teeth
- Surgical procedures including the Ravitch and Nuss procedures
Cryoablation is offered in conjunction with the Nuss procedure for pain control, which has been shown to decrease the length of stay from 5 to 7 days to 2 to 3.
About chest deformities
Pectus excavatum is Latin for hollowed chest. It is a very common congenital deformity of the chest wall, where several ribs and the sternum grow abnormally. This commonly gives a caved-in or sunken appearance of the chest. It can either be present at birth or not develop until puberty.
Causes
The disorder is assumed to be caused by overgrowth of the costal cartilage which connects the ribs to the sternum (center of the chest, or breastbone). As a child with the disorder grows through adolescence, the costal cartilage overgrowth restricts the expansion of the ribs and pushes the sternum inward. The disorder is estimated to occur in one of every 500 to 1000 children; it occurs in males three times as frequently as in females. Pectus excavatum can occur repeatedly in families, but most of the time it occurs randomly. At present, the cause is unknown.
Causes
Pectus carinatum is an overgrowth of cartilage causing the sternum to protrude forward. It occurs in 3 different ways. It is often evident in newborns as a rounded chest and as they reach 2 or 3 years old the sternum begins to grow outwardly. The most common occurrence for pectus carinatum seems to be in the 11-14 year old pubertal male undergoing a growth spurt. Some parents report that their child’s pectus seemingly popped up “overnight.”
It may occur as a solitary congenital abnormality or in association with other genetic disorders or syndromes, such as:
- Marfan syndrome
- Ehlers Danlos Syndrome
- Morquio syndrome
- Noonan syndrome
- Trisomy 18
- Trisomy 21
- Homocystinuria
- Osteogenesis imperfecta
- Multiple lentigines syndrome
- Sly syndrome
- Scoliosis
Referrals and appointments
Clinic locations and appointments
Families have access to our full-service Pediatric Heart Center along with the added convenience of six outreach clinic locations.
For referring physicians, please call our patient referrals phone number at 916-734-3456 for assistance with pediatric cardiology services or use on our online referral form.
Pediatric Heart Center - main clinic location
77 Cadillac Drive, Suite 101
Sacramento, CA
Sacramento clinic appointments
Outreach clinics
We have 6 convenient locations in the surrounding communities.
