Abstract
Background: The purpose of this study is to analyze the clinical results ad operative compatability by Ravitch methods with pectus excavatum. Material and Method: From 1984 to 1997, were performed Ravitch operations in 40 patients of pectus excavatum and analyzed the effects of correction and postoperative complication according to time of operation retrospectively. The group comprised 35 mem and women whose mean age was 8.9$\pm$7.9 years(between 2 to 35 years). All patients had corrected with Ravitch operation or its modified operation. Modified fixations were accomplished with K-wire in 15 patients and internal plate in 2 and the materials were removed 3 months after operation. The result of correction was estimated with the degree of changed distance between inner surface of sternal body and vertebral in 3 months after correction. Result: Postoperative complications were wound disruption in 14 patients. Estimated distances after correction ranged 0.4 cm to 4 cm. The acceptability for chest wall correction was high(6 excellent, 29 good in criteria of Humphreys). Conclusion: We concluded that the benefits of Ravitch operation were a high acceptability of patients and their family, and sufficient correction with no specific complications related operation.
