Effectiveness of conservative treatment in individuals with pectus excavatum

The aim of this study was to examine its conservative effectiveness in individuals with pectus excavatum. 35 individuals with pectus excavatum (8 girls, 27 boys) included in the study were divided into 2 groups: study and control. While the control group was followed with vacuum bell treatment only, the study group was followed with vacuum bell and exercise therapy for 12 weeks. Deformity severity measurements of the participants were made with the anthropometric index, and sagittal posture evaluations were made with the photographic method. To evaluate function, chest mobility tests performed at the 4th rib, xiphoid and subcostal levels, trunk flexibility performed with sit-reach test and Modified Schober test, and trunk endurance tests performed with sit up and lateral bridge tests were used. Quality of life was assessed with the Nuss Questionnaire, Pectus Evaluation Questionnaire, and Quality of Life Questionnaire for Children. In individuals with pectus excavatum, a decrease in deformity severity was achieved in both groups (p <0.05). An improvement in head posture was observed in both groups (p<0.05). While no change was observed in trunk posture with treatment in the control group, an improvement in posture was observed in the thoracic, thoracolumbar and lumbar regions in the study group (p<0.05). While there was no change in chest mobility measurements at the 4th rib and xiphoid levels with treatment in both groups (p>0.05), an increase in mobility was found at the subcostal level in the control group (p<0.05). According to the results of the sit-and-reach test, improvement was observed in both groups (p<0.05). An improvement was observed in sit up and lateral bridge test (right) results in the control group (p<0.05). While an improvement was achieved in all survey scores in terms of quality of life in the study group (p<0.05), no change was detected in the control group. According to our study, conservative treatment including exercise in addition to vacuum bell has positive contributions to posture and quality of life in individuals with pectus excavatum.