Am I a Candidate
Eligibility Criteria
Not sure if you are a candidate for our treatment program? Check your situation against the following criteria to determine your eligibility for our program.
1. Age
From a size perspective we can make braces for children as young as ~5 years old. However, our pre-sized options are limited to those with at least 27 inch girth. For very young children you should request a custom brace from one of our Professional locations. Note, very young children are also more likely to have compliance issues.
Both the pliability of human bone and the correlation between the histological components of bone and its physical properties changes with age. By about age 16, all extra cartilage has matured into bone. Around age 30, most people reach their peak bone mass. By age 40, the bones start to become thinner and weaker. Therefore, as we age the bracing time required to achieve a permanent change increases and the amount of correction that occurs decreases.
By 16 years old the effectiveness of bracing starts to reduce, by age 25 the effects are significantly reduced and by age 35 the pliability is typically too minimal and bony structure such that it is not possible to achieve any noticeable change. We therefore no longer recommend bracing for anyone over the age of 35 for pectus carinatum or 30 for Rib Flare.
Limit: Over 8 years old, less than 35 years old (or < 30 for Rib Flare)
2. Size
We can make braces covering a wide range of patient sizes. However, our pre-sized solutions are limited to those with a girth at the apex of between 27 inch and 37 inch. Sizes bigger or smaller than this can still be treated but are not available online through this program and you would need to be measured and fitted by one of our clinical providers.
Limit: Greater than 27 inch girth, less than 37 inch girth
3. Other Medical Condition(s)
If you have a heart condition, asthma or other breathing issue, you should consult a thoracic surgeon before trying our treatment program. You may still be a candidate but should first ask your physician if pressure on your chest is contra-indicated by your other medical condition(s).
Limit: no underlying heart or lung conditions
4. Severity
Bracing is the ideal treatment for mild to moderate cases up to moderately severe cases in children and moderate cases in adults.Very mild cases may not progress or be cosmetically very noticeable and therefore not require any bracing.Very severe cases can sometimes to be too severe and requires forces that would result in skin breakdown, In very severe cases surgical options should be considered.
Limit: Mild to moderately severe cases.
5. Location
Some Pectus Carinatum (PC) and Rib Flare(RF) deformities are more difficult to correct due to the location:
a. Too High (PC)
Central Low and Central Mid Carinatum are biomechanically easier to correct. However, Central High PC is more difficult it is to correct.
Limit: Apex is less than 3 inches above nipple line
Measure from the nipple line to the apical point. If less than 3 inches then you are a candidate.
b. Too Lateral (PC)
Central Pectus deformity is more correctable than lateral deformity. The more to the side of the chest the deformity is the more difficult is to correct. Very lateral PC can still be corrected but requires a different type of brace that is made from a mold of the torso and is therefore not available through this program and only available through a clinic
Limit: Apex is less than 1.5 inches to the side of the center line
Measure from the center of the chest to the apical point. If less than 1.5 inch then you are a candidate. If more, you can still be braced but require a custom TLO solution
c. Too Lateral (RF)
RF deformity usually presents as a forward protrusion and bracing uses front-back pressure to mold the ribs to reduce the frontwards protrusion. However, occasionally it can be more to the sides (lateral). When it is more to the sides, front/back pressure can have the negative effect of increasing the lateral deviation and therefore not improve the deformity.
Limit:80% of total width
Measure: Mark the apical points of the Rib Flare on your body. Have someone take a picture from the front or take a picture of yourself in the mirror. Pull up your picture on your computer. Measure (1) the total width and (2) the width between the apical points. Divide (1) by (2). If the value is less than 0.8 then you are a candidate. A Little confused by the math ? Send us your two measurements via the contact us page and we can do the math for you and advise if you meet this requirement.
Note – Lateral RF CAN still be treated but requires a custom bracing solution that requires seeing one of our affiliated clinical providers.
Ready to make the improvement?
Check out our two bracing solutions
Not sure if you meet all these criteria ?
Checkout our partner site with a list of clinical providers where you can be connected with a Pectus bracing specialist.
Or
Send us your measurements and pictures so we can help you confirm if you meet the criteria.
Or
Order an Online Video Consultation with our Pectus Bracing Orthotist to discuss your specific case.