[Operative corrections of funnel chest depend on age group].

The methods of correcting funnel chest are various and many. It's necessary to select the proper method depending on the age group. For children, sternal elevation by Ravitch's procedure produces to better results without prosthesis. For adolescent patients, the elevated sternum can be maintained by Kirschner's wires. Furthermore, adult patients have severe chest wall deformities with calcificated costal cartilage. The methods sternal elevation methods cause an unsatisfactory by postoperative appearance for adult patients with funnel chest. Two adult patients, 20 and 48-year-old men, underwent the sternal turnover methods with complete sternal blood supplies. The procedures of the new method turn over the sternal body crossing bilateral internal thoracic vessels and abdominal rectal muscles. No chest wall deformities were seen and the patency of internal thoracic arteries and superior epigastric arteries was revealed by postoperative arteriography.