Minimally invasive care for pectus carinatum

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Pediatric Surgery
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Pectus Carinatum (PC) is a chest wall deformity often treated with Dynamic Compression Bracing (DCB).
• Traditional PC treatment involves frequent in-person physician and health ally consultations.
• The need for accessible and patient-centric care models is increasing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of treating PC with DCB using a virtual-only care model.
• To determine if in-person clinical visits are necessary for successful PC management.
• To assess patient satisfaction with virtual care for PC treatment.

Main Methods:

• Prospective enrollment of PC patients treated with DCB from 2018-2024 at a single center.
• Patients received DCB with virtual support from an independent orthotics company.
• Data collected included patient demographics, visit types (virtual/in-person), distance to hospital, and validated satisfaction surveys.

Main Results:

• 68 eligible patients were analyzed; 18 completed care without in-person visits.
• Over half (55%) opted for an initial virtual visit, with these patients often residing further from the hospital.
• No significant difference in treatment satisfaction was observed between patients who had in-person visits and those managed virtually.

Conclusions:

• Dynamic Compression Bracing for Pectus Carinatum can be successfully administered without requiring in-person clinical visits.
• Virtual-only care for PC minimizes travel-related risks, costs, and environmental impact.
• This patient-centric approach offers a viable alternative for managing Pectus Carinatum.