Have You Ever Seen Someone With a “Sunken” Chest?
It Might Be Pectus Excavatum
Pectus Excavatum is a condition whereby the breast bone (sternum) does not develop, as it should. Instead of pushing forward in front of you, it sinks inward towards the interior of your body. This can cause pressure on the heart and lungs. Symptoms may be difficulty catching your breath with exertion, always or frequently feeling winded and fatigued.
A Real Patient story:
A teenager was brought in by his mother describing the symptoms mentioned above. They had been to a pediatric orthopedist and Children’s National Medical Center amongst many other specialists, but were still lacking a diagnosis. His mother was a longtime patient, and though she thought his symptoms would not likely fall into an area of my expertise, in her frustration at so many failed attempts to diagnose the problem, she sought out my advise.
After listening to his history I asked him to remove his shirt. This tall young man had a very deep defect of the sternum. It was quite clear to me that his symptoms were due to mechanical pressure on his heart and lungs.
I told her I could do nothing to help with treatment from me, but that having the sternum surgically popped out would alleviate his symptoms. She looked at me in disbelief, and suggested that I was perhaps off my rocker, and asked why no one else had said this. I just shrugged my shoulders and sent her to find this procedure.
Well it turned out that is was exactly what he needed. He had the now well-known Nuss Procedure developed by Dr. Nuss at the Kings Daughter Hospital in Norfolk Virginia. I had not seen this young man since he had the procedure, but he returned to see me, now a college student, much bigger and more developed.
He brought me the surgical hardware that had been removed to allow his chest to develop normally. Thankfully, now it’s just a souvenir. This diagnosis, and subsequent procedure, changed this young man’s life forever in a very positive way. Never stop seeking help and answers……… you never know where the right one may come from. He now comes in for typical types of musculoskeletal complaints that I can treat and resolve – no knives needed!
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