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Updated: Aug 8, 2026
Endoscopic Septoplasty with Limited Two-line Resection: Minimally Invasive Surgery for Septal Deviation
Published on: June 20, 2018
Open repair of pectus excavatum and carinatum deformities with minimal cartilage resection
Eric W Fonkalsrud1, Julianne Mendoza
1Department of Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, 10833 Le Conte Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA. efonkalsrud@mednet.ucla.edu
Background:
Numerous modifications of the Ravitch open repair of pectus excavatum (PE) and carinatum (PC) have been used by surgeons with inconsistent results.
Methods:
During a 3-year period, 275 consecutive patients underwent open repair of PE and PC using a new less invasive technique. A small chip of costal cartilage was resected medially and laterally from each deformed cartilage, allowing it to barely touch the sternum and rib (laterally) after the sternum had been elevated or depressed, and twisted to the desired position. A support strut used for all patients was routinely removed within 6 months.
Results:
With mean follow-up of 17 months, all but 5 patients regarded the results as very good or excellent. There were no major complications or deaths.
Conclusion:
Open repair using minimal cartilage resection is effective for all variations of PE and PC in patients of all ages, causes only mild pain, and produces good physiologic and cosmetic results.
