Question
What should be done for a 9-year-old child with pectus excavatum?
Answer
A baby with pectus excavatum is often due to vitamin D deficiency during infancy. At nine years old, if the condition is only mild, there should be no problem. If it’s severe, it’s important to seek timely medical treatment and consult with an orthopedic specialist. Surgery is used to alleviate functional impairments or disturbances in the growth and development of the heart and lungs caused by the developmental deformity of pectus excavatum. For mild cases, surgery is generally not recommended because the psychological trauma can be significant, and one must weigh the pros and cons.