Will A Chest Wall Implant Be An Option After Multiple Pectus Excavatum Surgeries?

Q: Dr. Eppley, Pics are post chest wall reconstruction.Original PE repair 2008. Dr removed all the sterno costal junctions and elevated the sternum but ribs remained inward as the bar was on top of the ribs. Very bad. 2010 bar removed, 2011 mesh and seroma removed. 2023 chest wall recon with bone graphs.

Given the complexity, current surgeon will not place a Nuss bar to correct upper chest. My sternum is now stable but PE remains. I’m looking for solution to correct ribs 1,2 and lift upper sternum, OR last resort implant to correct the contour.

A: Given the complexity of your surgical sternal-rib cage deformity (multiple failed surgeries), a contour approach now seems the most likely to achieve improvement using a custom made implant from your 3D CT scan. I don’t see any autologous technique that I would be confident in that could provide assured and uncomplicated improvement.

Dr. Barry Eppley

World-Renowned Plastic Surgeon