BACKGROUND

Surgical remodeling and correction of congenital and acquired chest wall deformities (CWD) is undertaken many times for cosmesis. Although reportedly minimally invasive, commonly used Nuss procedure for correction of pectus excavatum (PE) is not without complications. Nuss procedure is also not suitable for complex deformities and Poland syndrome cases. Insertion of custom-made silicone implants for the reconstruction of defects has been adopted from adult plastic reconstructive surgery as primary repair of CWD or rescue procedure for recurrence of PE after recurrence or residual deformity.

METHODS

We present our experience with CWD reconstruction in children with customized silicone prosthesis made from a surgically implantable liquid silicone rubber (NuSil MED-4805, Ca).

RESULTS

Since 2006 we treated 26 patients with CWD: six were children (age <17years, median 14.6) with PE. Implants were custom made for each patient's chest. The implants were inserted under general anesthesia. Postoperatively all patients were fully satisfied with the cosmetic result and subjective patient satisfaction remained excellent at follow-up in all the children. Only one child developed postoperative complications (seroma).

CONCLUSIONS

Customized silicone implant for PE in the pediatric age is an alternative therapeutic method, as primary or rescue treatment, with equally good cosmetic outcome, fewer significant complications, less postoperative pain and a faster recovery.