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Condition

Pediatric Pectus Excavatum

What is pectus excavatum?

Pectus excavatum (sometimes called cobbler's chest, sunken chest or funnel chest) is the most common chest deformity, affecting between 1 in 300 and 1 in 500 adolescents. It is caused when several ribs and the sternum grow abnormally, which produces a caved-in or sunken appearance of the chest. Pectus excavatum is usually congenital (present at birth) and can get worse during the early teenage years, a time when bones grow rapidly. Because it affects the appearance of children, pectus excavatum can cause psychological and social problems. Moreover, it can hamper the ability of the heart and lungs to function normally, and can cause pain in the chest, back and elsewhere.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the treatment for pectus excavatum in children?

What is the thoracoscopic Nuss procedure for children?

Ravitch technique

Providers Who Treat Pectus Excavatum

    Departments that Treat Pectus Excavatum

    Chest Wall Defects Program

    Although chest wall abnormalities are actually quite common in children, Children's National's team of pediatric specialists have the experience to accurately diagnose the condition and understand how treatment affects a child who is still growing.