Surgery with one hanger

The method according to Nuss is now the most commonly used operation for funnel chest correction. It is minimally invasive, therefore there is no large operation scar and complications can be reduced. From the age of 16, when the longitudinal growth is complete, the method is most suitable.

Through the small lateral accesses, curved brackets are inserted under the funnel chest and fixed to the lateral ribs. Through the bows, the chest is bent or lifted outwards. The advantage of this method is not only the smaller surgical accesses, but also the fact that it is not necessary to operate directly on bone or cartilage.

The Erlangen method (also known as “Sternochondroplasty”) can be used for any funnel chest deformity. This surgical method is an open operation in which the sternum is exposed. The cartilage causing the deformity is cut through and then sutured in the corrected position. Metal brackets are then inserted for additional stabilization, as in the nut method.

Surgery with one implant

Surgery with implants is performed only in case of cosmetic impairment. The insertion of the implant serves to cover the retraction visible from the outside, so that a normal contour of the ribcage is created. For this purpose, an individual silicone implant is made for each patient.

In an operation lasting about one hour, an incision of about seven centimeters is made above the ribcage retraction. The muscles are exposed and the implant is inserted below the muscles and then the surgical wound is closed again with sutures. Instead of the implant, muscle transplants can also be placed over the retraction or fat transplants can be made to give the ribcage a natural shape. With these surgical methods, the funnel chest itself is not corrected, but only covered. Therefore, these methods are only suitable if the funnel chest has no health effects.

Risks of surgery

Every operation has risks that should be known in advance. Especially if it is a cosmetic operation, the affected persons should be aware of the complications. With the method according to Nuss – the minimally invasive method in which the stirrups are inserted through small incisions – there is often severe pain after the operation, because the funnel chest is lifted by the stirrups, but actually wants to fall back into its original position.Therefore, this method often requires a longer pain therapy.

Usually the metal brackets are removed after one to two years. In less than 5% of the cases, the funnel chest is formed again. The metal brackets can shift, so that a corrective surgery would be necessary.

In addition, each operation can lead to infections or wound healing disorders. Also an allergic reaction to the inserted metal brackets or the silicone implant can occur, so that they have to be removed again. In addition, the metal brackets allow only limited or insufficient external cardiac massage in the event of cardiac arrest. In rare cases, injury to the organs located behind the thorax, lungs and heart, can occur. Furthermore, bleeding, vascular occlusion (thrombosis), nerve damage or allergic reactions to general anesthesia are possible complications of any operation.