[Modified sternal turnover with pedicle of abdominal rectus muscle for pectus excavatum].

OBJECTIVE: To assess surgical correction for children with pectus excavatum. METHOD: Modified sternal turnover operation with rectus abdominalis pedicle was performed on 20 children with pectus excavatum since 1987. RESULTS: The patients were successfully corrected and no recurrence was seen during 6 to 36 months after operation. Human bone density examination showed same results in some patients before and six months after operation. CONCLUSION: Modified sternal turnover operation has the following advantages: easy to operate; less bleeding; better blood supply to the turned sternum; rapid postoperative recovery; satisfied correction of deformity and no recurrence. It should be widely used clinically.