Anterior chest wall regression after Nuss bar removal in adult patients with pectus excavatum.

Objective: Pectus excavatum repair with the Nuss procedure can be successfully performed in adults. After removing the pectus bars, the anterior chest wall may regress to some degree. The purpose of this study was to clarify the amount of improvement and regression of the chest wall after bar removal.

Methods: In 45 adult patients who underwent the Nuss procedure, the sternovertebral distance (SVD) on lateral chest X-ray was measured (A) before the Nuss procedure, (B) before bar removal, and (C) after bar removal. The average SVD was compared, and the difference between A and C suggesting final sternal elevation and B and C suggesting regression was calculated. The correlation between the duration of bar in situ and the amount of regression was analyzed.

Results: The average period of bar in situ was 34.9 ± 5.0 (range 23-45) months. The average SVD-A, SVD-B, and SVD-C values were 58.9 ± 20.0, 89.3 ± 19.1, and 81.6 ± 20.1 mm, respectively, with significant differences among them. Final sternal elevation was 22.7 ± 17.4 mm, and average regression was 7.6 ± 8.6 mm. The correlation coefficient between the duration of bar in situ and the amount of regression was 0.119, suggesting no clear correlation.

Conclusions: In spite of some degree of chest wall regression after bar removal, the Nuss procedure was effective for adult patients with pectus excavatum. The period of bar in situ and chest wall regression had little correlation.