Nakayama said children commonly become self-conscious about the appearance of their chest. So this condition is very discomfiting, particularly when the child reaches adolescence. They become very self-conscious. The new surgery, developed at Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters in Norfolk, Va., takes about 90 minutes, compared to the four hours required for the traditional procedure. In the older operation, cartilage is removed from the ribs where they attach to the sternum.
Muscle also is removed.
The sternum is levered upwards and held in place with a flat steel bar, which rests on each side of the chest wall. The bar remains in place for six months, much like an orthopedic pin, and is removed in a second operation. In the new procedure, however, neither muscles nor cartilage are removed. The bar is curved to conform to the desired shape of the chest and just holds things in place. After the traditional operation, patients are restricted in activities involving arm and chest wall muscles for at least six weeks.