A control study of measuring thoracic cage indexes in 3-17 years old healthy children and children with pectus excavatum

Objective To provide data references for Nuss procedure biomechanics research, and to understand morphological pathological changes in children with pectus excavatum. Methods A retrospective study was conducted for 434 cases of pectus excavatum from January 2009 to December 2015 in our institution. The anterior rib width(RW), anterior intercostal space width(IS) and thickness of the rib in the middle(RT) on the right side of 3-7 ribs had been measured in each patient. The widths were compared between the IS of children with pectus excavatum and the bar which currently used in clinic. The measurement indexes were compared between healthy children and children with pectus excavatum. Results The IS of prepubertal children with pectus excavatum was less than the width of bar which currently used in clinic (12.7 mm). Children with pectus excavatum compared with healthy children, the IS from 4 to 6 and the 5th RW of children with pectus excavatum were less than healthy children (P<0.05), the 3rd and 4th RT were greater than healthy children (P<0.05). Conclusion The measured values will be useful for the improvement of pectus bar and Nuss procedure biomechanics research. By morphology contrast, it reflects the pectus excavatum deformity has some restriction in thoracic development and the cardiopulmonary function. Key words: Pectus excavatum; Ribs; Nuss procedure; X-ray