Pectus Carinatum Surgery vs. Braces
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What is pectus carinatum? Pectus carinatum, also known as pigeon chest, is a chest wall deformity in which the breastbone overgrows and protrudes. The condition is caused by rapid cartilage growth and often leads to asthma and short breath, especially during physical activities.
Do you know that children are typically born with this abnormality, but it only becomes noticeable in the teenage years? Possible treatment options include wearing a pectus carinatum brace or surgery. We’ll discuss the condition in teens, its signs and symptoms, and why surgery should never be your first option.
Finally, we’ll reveal why Dakota Brace solutions should always be the first choice in fixing pectus carinatum.
Pectus Carinatum in Children and Teens
This cartilage abnormality is a childhood condition more common in male children. 90% of male teens are diagnosed after turning 11, but the condition can continue developing until puberty when the bones stop growing. While the condition is not life-threatening, severe cases can cause chest pain and a fast heart rate. Moreover, it can affect a child’s self-esteem and social life, especially in pools, on beaches, and with friends.
This condition may also cause shortness of breath, poor posture, and spine curving, but a chest brace can solve the problem. Furthermore, wearing a chest brace for six to twelve months can return the breast bone to its normal position.
Signs and Symptoms of Pectus Carinatum
The main sign and symptom of pectus carinatum is chest protrusion. While there are protrusion signs during childhood, it becomes noticeable in adolescence. Please note that the condition symptoms often change as the child matures, but the most common ones include:
- Breast bone protrusion
- Abnormal breathing
The symptoms and signs in older kids include:
- Broad, thin chest
- Lateral or outward spine curvature
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Feeling sluggish and tired
- Regular respiratory infections
- Asthma
- Poor posture and hooked shoulders
Why Pectus Carinatum Surgery Should Never Be the First Option
The painful recovery, price, and scary nature of the surgery are a few reasons it should never be your first option. Furthermore, surgeries are invasive and can lead to complications, making braces your ideal solution. There are different reasons why surgery should never be your first option, but the most important ones include:
Surgery Is Scary
The pigeon chest surgery involves horizontal chest incision and removal of abnormal chest cartilages. Surgery is not essential until bracing fails to produce the desired outcomes since the process can take more than four hours in more severe cases.
The complexity of the condition may dictate the length of the procedure and your hospital or medical facility stay. Surgery should never be your first choice if you want to reverse the pectus carinatum issue without a difficult recovery.
Surgery Is Very Invasive
Due to the intrusive nature of the surgery, people naturally get anxious at the notion of it. And it’s understandable since the procedure involves opening the patient’s chest to remove the cartilage.
The procedure can reverse the condition but can also lead to a collapsed lung (pneumothorax), bleeding, and other complications. So, consider the bracing solution if you don’t want medical instruments and other objects invading your child’s body.
The Recovery Is Painful
Recovering from pigeon chest surgery is painful, and patients must spend 3–5 days in the hospital after the surgery. Patients typically receive IV and oral pain medications, local anesthesia, and anti-inflammatory drugs to recover quickly.
Doctors encourage patients to walk short distances and take deep breaths, but even breathing is painful after the surgery. Many patients use pain medications during the first 2–4 weeks after surgery, but it usually takes a month or two to recover.
It Can Be Very Expensive ($19,500—$25,000)
Pectus carinatum surgery is expensive, and the prices start at $19,500. Since this is an existing condition, health insurance policies may not cover the cost. Patients usually cover extra costs, like additional tests, depending on chest muscle placement, surgery length, and implant size.
Why Dakota Brace Solutions Should Always Be the First Option
Saving thousands of dollars with outstanding results in six months are just some of the reasons Dakota Brace solutions should always be your first option. Let’s see the other reasons.
Braces Are Not Scary and Come In Different Colors
Dakota Brace offers pectus carinatum braces that are ideal for reversing the abnormality. As a bonus, they come in different colors, that’ll leave a lasting impression. From classic white and black to eye-catching orange and yellow, patients can choose from a wide variety of colors.
You Can Save Thousands of Dollars
If you want to save thousands of dollars in the long run, consider the custom braces option. Dakota Brace solutions will create a chest brace, especially for your child’s body, so you won’t waste time looking for the right pectus carinatum brace.
You Can See Great Results in Six Months
You’ll notice improvements in as little as six months after your child starts wearing a custom Dakota Brace pectus carinatum brace. Depending on the severity of the condition, they’ll probably have to wear it for up to 23 hours a day. Luckily, besides giving quick results, Dakota Brace chest braces are also very comfortable.
3D Printed Custom Braces Fit Children Perfectly
Dakota Brace 3D-printed braces are custom-made and come with instructions and guidelines. They’re an excellent fit for children with pigeon chests, as they alleviate discomfort, relieve chest pain, and correct the abnormality.
From 3D body scan to strap and body dimension design, Dakota Brace custom braces are unique and great for kids with pectus carinatum and rib flare. With easy fittings and adjustments, these braces are efficient and comfortable for kids of different ages.
Experience the Best Customer Experience and Clinical Accuracy
If you’re looking for custom braces made by expert clinicians to restore your child’s health and confidence, Dakota Brace is for you. We offer excellent customer experience, clinical accuracy, and virtual support to track and ensure progress. We make the treatment plan easy to follow for customers to achieve desired results.
Everything Is Done Remotely to Fit Your Schedule
At Dakota Braces, we do everything remotely to fit customers’ schedules without compromising quality. We offer virtual support with scanning and treatment plans to help patients achieve their goals.
Note: You’ll need access to an iPhone X or later to do the initial scan.
You Can Finance Purchase Over 12 Months
Another reason Dakota Brace should be your first option for pigeon chest treatment is the payment flexibility. If you’re financially strained and wonder how to fix pectus carinatum, Dakota Brace is your solution, as you can finance the purchase of braces over 12 months.
The Bottom Line
Going for surgery or wearing braces is the decision many pectus carinatum patients have to make. But Dakota Brace offers the perfect solution. Dakota Brace is home to effective braces that provide results in six months. Ready to restore your health and confidence?
Click here for your free consultation and get $75 off your first order.
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