In addition to the possible physiological consequences, malformations of the pectus can have significant psychological effects. Some people, especially those with milder cases, live happily with Pectus carinatum. For others, however, breast shape can damage their self-image and self-confidence, potentially disrupting social bonds and making them uncomfortable during puberty and adulthood. As the child grows, strength training techniques can be helpful in balancing the visual impact. [Citation needed] Pectus carinatum is unlikely to improve on its own. In some mild cases, weightlifting and exercise can build muscle in the chest that can help hide the shape of the sternum. Interviewer: But I could imagine that this kind of breast deformity can lead to self-esteem problems in a lot of people, especially teenagers, where, boy, it`s a difficult time in life anyway, isn`t it? And we used to be in such a way that we offered this surgically. It often took major surgery with a longer hospital stay and a longer recovery time. And you can think about the cost and expenses of it, and so it has not often been pursued. Nowadays, as with the correction of teeth with braces, there are struts that can occur to correct the breast.
We like to do this in children who have a fairly young body type because their breast is still very malleable, and initiating struts at this age will allow the breast to correct itself, and then we help them in some way to maintain this correction through continuous spacers until they have finished growing. Dr. Fenton: For Carinatum, that is usually the case. Now, let`s talk again about the kind of routine of everyday life. In some children, where it is very asymptomatic, the breast quite deformed, it is another story. Even with Carinatum, I would say that they should be evaluated and we should determine whether the treatment is right for them or not. However, for most carinatum, children are often not symptomatic in any other way. So the treatment really follows the cosmetic lines. Will my child`s breast look completely normal after treatment? After the orthosis is removed, your child will receive an orthopedic check and 3D photos every six months until their breast is stable. Strength training exercises (often trying to cover the defect with the pectoral muscles) do not alter the ribs and cartilage of the chest wall and are generally not considered harmful. [Citation needed] People with pectus carinatum usually develop normal hearts and lungs, but the malformation can prevent them from functioning optimally.
In moderate to severe cases of pectus carinatum, the chest wall is held rigidly outwards. Therefore, breathing is ineffective and the individual must use accessory muscles to breathe instead of normal chest muscles during intense exercises. This has a negative effect on gas exchange and leads to a decrease in endurance. Children with malformations of the pectus often get tired earlier than their peers due to shortness of breath and fatigue. Often, at the same time, there is mild to moderate asthma. Because it affects the shape of their breast, some people with Pectus carinatum may be dissatisfied with their bodies. This can have a huge impact on their lives. Even though Pectus carinatum does not cause physical problems, health professionals may recommend treatment to improve self-esteem and quality of life.
Talk to your doctor or nurse if you are concerned about your own or your child`s well-being. A less common variant of Pectus carinatum is Pectus arcuatum (also called Pectus excavatum type 2, chondromanubrial malformation or Currarino-Silverman syndrome or Pouter Pireon malformation), which produces superior manubrial and sternal protrusion,[2] especially in the sternal angle. [3] Pectus arcuatum is often confused with a combination of Pectus carinatum and Pectus excavatum, but in Pectus arcuatum, the visual appearance is characterized by protrusion of the thoracic cartilage and there is no deepening of the sternum. [4] Interviewer: Pectus carinatum is an ailment in which the chest and chest squeeze outward. It has earned the nickname “pigeon breast” over the years because of the way it sneaks in, and today wanted to know more about it. Dr. Fenton: That is correct. I said congenital, which means that the child was born with this defect. But especially with the carinatum, it is usually not noticed until adolescence, when the child has gone through puberty and has had growth spurts. And this is the time when the breast, because the breast grows on one side or the other, grows more. Is it dangerous? This is usually the first question parents want to know.
This is not the case. The chest will be just as strong as their peers. And so we don`t give any restrictions on the child`s activities. We want them to exercise, we want them to be active, and we certainly don`t tell them otherwise. Some people may develop a stiff chest wall. They may experience shortness of breath and find it harder for them to breathe, especially when they exercise. The nut procedure is a newer and less invasive technique. With small incisions, the surgeon inserts a curved metal rod to push the sternum and ribs and reshape them. A stabilizer rod is added to hold it in place. The breast is permanently reshaped in 3 years and both stems are surgically removed. The walnut procedure can be used in patients from 8 years of age. Although some cases require surgery, most children with CP need a chest orthosis, also known as an orthosis, to correct the shape of their chest wall.
The orthosis compresses (greenhouses) overgrown ribs or sternums in a “normal” position. An orthopedist adjusts your child`s braces, which are worn until the chest is flattened and the chest wall can remain in position on its own – this can take several months. Contact your orthopedist if you have any questions or concerns about treating your child with thorsosis. Often we measure when we should repair, depending on gravity and body type. But of course, we do not necessarily want to do it as soon as it is recognized, but as soon as it is recognized and the child begins to initiate puberty and growth, because the breast is again much more malleable, children tolerate it much better. The older the body type, the older the person, the treatment itself can be much more difficult and less effective. Children whose bones are still growing may wear a breast orthosis. Similar to how braces realign teeth, a breast corset pushes the sternum back into a normal position. Children must wear an orthosis for 6 months to a year.
You can remove it for sports, showers, and other activities, but you usually need to wear it for 8 hours a day or more. Up to 1 in 10 people with breast disorders such as pectus carinatum may also suffer from scoliosis (curvature of the spine). Most people with Pectus carinatum have no other medical problems. Pectus carinatum can be diagnosed with visual evaluation. The doctor usually only needs to look at your child`s chest. Pectus carinatum is a proliferation of thoracic cartilage, protruding from the sternum forward. It occurs mainly in four different groups of patients, and men are more often affected than women. Most often, Pectus carinatum develops in pubescent men from 11 to 14 years of age who undergo a growth spurt. Some parents report that their child`s pectus carinatum appeared apparently overnight. The second most common is the presence of Pectus carinatum at birth or shortly after.
The condition may be evident in newborns as a rounded front chest wall. When the child reaches the age of 2 or 3 years, the outward-facing sternal protrusion becomes more pronounced. Pectus carinatum can also be caused by vitamin D deficiency in children (rickets) due to the deposition of non-mineralized osteoid. Pectus carinatum malformation is rarest after open-heart surgery or in children with poorly controlled bronchial asthma. Chest orthotics often give excellent results, but in extreme circumstances, surgery may be required to correct the deformity. Despite the scarring, your child`s breast usually reaches a normal shape after this procedure. A chest compression orthosis should be worn, which puts light pressure on the chest to change the shape and position of the sternum over time. It is not clear whether the orthosis permanently changes the sternum.
And then, thirdly, I tell children how much time is needed for correction really depends on how often they wear it. And if he is in his closet under a pile of clothes, his chest will not correct. When they wear it 24 hours a day, we have sometimes seen children correct in just 6 months, which is mainly difficult and depends on the timing. Dr. Fenton: That is a good question. It`s really unknown. It is an innate deformation of the pectus. There are two, Excavatum and Carinatum. And, as you said, Carinatum goes outward like the chest of a pigeon. It must be an interaction between the cartilage of the ribs, or the place where the ribs meet with the sternum, and with the development of the breast. These cells push the sternum outward.