CURRENT METHODS OF TREATMENT OF SUNKEN CHEST

Abstract

Introduction Sunken chest, also called funnel chest, is the most common deformation of the sternum, which is caused by the posterior depression of the sternum and lower costal cartilages[1,2]. Deformation determines the reduction of the space of the chest cavity and the restriction of the functioning of the organ systems, cardiovascular and respiratory systems in this cavity, which causes the severity of the pathology[3]. Prevalence is 1/300 to 1/1000 live births. 1/5 - female/male, 90% of chest wall deformities are sunken chest. Most of the cases appear in the first year of life. A funnel-shaped chest is formed during puberty. Funnel chest may be present as an isolated anomaly or as a part of various congenital pathologies. Among congenital clinical syndromes, connective tissue diseases are very rare (less than 1%)[4]. Sunken chest etiopathogenesis, genetic factors, associated diseases are diverse and are still the subject of study. Due to the fact, that we have a little information on the etiological factors, and the said deformation and the degree of deformation, determine the pathological functioning of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, the treatment of deformation is the most urgent, complex and developing issue. Our goal is to present different treatment techniques, discuss and compare treatment method, which is introduced in Georgia.