The Nuss Procedure for the Treatment of Pectus Excavatum
(Sunken Chest)

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Sunken chest syndrome, called pectus excavatum, affects about one out of every 1,000 children. It is a malformation in which the ribs and chest wall appear indented or sunken toward the spine. At Baptist, physicians perform a minimally invasive procedure called the Nuss procedure to help treat sunken chest.

In the procedure, a small incision is made on each side of the rib cage. Next, a curved, custom-shaped, stainless steel rod is woven through the rib cage beneath the sternum. Once in place, the rod is rotated, turning the curved portion against the chest wall, and pushing the ribs and chest out. The rod is secured to the chest wall with sutures and wire and left in place for about two years.

The theory behind this procedure is similar to correcting misaligned teeth with braces. The bar acts as an internal brace and the deformity is corrected over time.

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