Surgical treatment of pectus excavatum in infants by hanging up sternum with stainless steel strut

Objective To review the experience on treating pectus excavatum in infants by hanging up sternum with stainless steel strut.Methods Fifty-two infants with pectus excavatum(PE),39 boys and 13 girls aged 10 months to 3 years were retrospectively studied,who received treatment in our hospital from January 2000 to January 2005.All PE infants were treated by hanging up sternum with stainless steel strut.The lung cysts,esophageal hiatal hernia and congenital heart diseases were simultaneously treated.Results Except one case of pneumonia,the other cases had normal contours.The follow-up period was 3 months to 5 years postoperatively.Except that one had slight notch in thorax,all patients had satisfactory results.The cardiopulmonary function had been improved postoperatively.Conclusion Pectus excavatum deformities are suitable to early operation.Correction of pectus excavatum by hanging up sternum with stainless steel strut results in an excellent cosmetic outcome.