Question

A child who was two years and three months old at the time of cryptorchidism surgery at the hospital was diagnosed with pectus carinatum by the attending physician and was recommended for surgery at the age of three. The depth of the chest depression is about 2 to 3 centimeters, and there is a noticeable rise and fall of the chest while sleeping. Additionally, the belly is larger than that of average children of the same age. Inquiring about the appropriate timing for treatment and recommendations.

Answer

For patients with pectus carinatum over the age of two with obvious symptoms and signs, surgical correction may be considered. Most scholars suggest that the optimal age for surgery is between the ages of 3 and 12, as the range of deformity is more limited at this age, and there has not yet been a development of thoracic pressure leading to scoliosis, making surgical shaping easier and better results are achieved. With technological advancements, the surgeries have become increasingly minimally invasive, and the indications for surgery have gradually been relaxed. Patients can not only improve heart and lung function through minimally invasive surgery but also prevent other skeletal deformities such as spinal curvature, treat psychological problems caused by abnormal appearance, and satisfy aesthetic needs.