Can Rib Removal Help Cure The Discomfort From Rib #12 Crossing Into Rib #11?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am interested to know if you do 11th and12th rib resection for medical problems as those 2 ribs are pushed inward and up causing pain.I have a case of my left 12th rib syndrome .My 12th rib is not touching my pelvis, its angulated up and inward,being to close to my 11th rib and 11th and 12 crossed toward ends of the ribs.12th rib kind of under 11th, and 11th to curvy and gets stuck under 10th I want to discuss with you rib resection.

A:The typical reason for the medical treatment of ribs #11 and #12 is for ilio-costal syndrome caused by the excessive length of those ribs…which I have done numerous times. Whether that would be effective for those two ribs because they push inward and up I can not say for sure but presumably it would and it requires their length reduction.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana