The vacuum method was used as early as 1910 by Lange. A vacuum bell is a plastic device that is connected to a pump. You place the bell-shaped device on the front of the chest and use a pump to suck the air out of the device. This creates a vacuum that pulls the chest forward. Over time, the chest wall stays forward on its own. Three different sizes of vacuum bells, as well as a model fitted... READ MORE

What is Pectus Excavatum? Pectus excavatum, also known as sunken or funnel chest is a congenital chest wall malformation in which several ribs and the sternum grow abnormally, producing a Pectus excavatum occurs in an estimated 1 in 300-500 births, with a male predominance (male-to-female ratio, 3:1). The condition is typically noticed at birth, and more than two-thirds of cases are diagnosed... READ MORE

Pectus Excavatum Causes Pectus Excavatum causes are still unknown because researchers are unsure of the cause. They do assume that there is a genetic component involved in this deformity. Pectus Excavatum occurs in 1 to 1000 births with a 3:1 male to female ratio. Pectus excavatum is a relatively common symptom of Noonan syndrome, Marfan syndrome and Loeys-Dietz syndrome. It is also found in... READ MORE

Brace Treatment The Brace treatment is a non-surgical way to cure this deformity. This treatment involves the fitting of the brace, which a person needs to wear for long hours every day. This generally takes around six months to get the desired result. However, the satisfaction may vary from person to person since same treatment might not be applicable for all. Compressive bracing results in... READ MORE