INSTRUMENTATION SURGERY FOR FUNNEL CHEST

Thirty four patients with funnel chest were operated on using the Zimm er plate and/or U shaped rod, There were no recurrences of the chest d eformity and 78.6% were satisfied with the result, The low % VC signif icantly improved after the operation, Five cases had one of the follow ing complications, massive bleeding from the internal thoracic artery, partial skin necrosis, rotational dislodgement of the rod, temporal s ubcutaneous infection or partial rupture of the pectoral muscle incisi on, The blood loss ensuing in one operation during the last 8 years ha s been less than 300 mi and the postoperative bed rest was less than 7 days, All the patients could get back to the preoperative daily activ ities within three weeks without wearing brace or chest protector, The refore, our method is considered to be less invasive and very useful f or correction of the funnel chest deformity.