Chest Wall Deformities in Pediatric Surgery

Chest wall deformities can be divided into 2 main categories, congenital and acquired. Congenital chest wall deformities may present any time between birth and early adolescence. Acquired chest wall deformities typically follow prior chest surgery or a posterolateral diaphragmatic hernia repair (Bochdalek). The most common chest wall deformities are congenital pectus excavatum (88%) and pectus carinatum (5%). This article addresses the etiology, pathophysiology, clinical evaluation, diagnosis, and management of these deformities.