Pectus Carinatum Orthosis

Pectus Carinatum is an anterior chest wall deformity that is due to overgrowth of the costal cartilages. The overgrowth results in the sternum being pushed forward and protruding abnormally from the chest wall. Pectus carinatum can be corrected in many cases with a special custom-made pectus brace.

Del Bianco first began treating children with Pectus Carinatum after meeting with a local pediatric surgeon. After studying and discussing several research articles documenting pectus bracing, Jim Del Bianco organized a treatment protocol and developed a brace design to correct pectus carinatum.

Just as important as brace design, experience counts in treating pectus carinatum. Each case is unique and requires a treatment approach specific to the patient and Del Bianco is set apart from the rest. Del Bianco has the experience to understand what is possible with a brace and how to design it to obtain the maximum possible correction of your pectus deformity.

Treating pectus carinatum is a unique specialty to DBPO. We welcome parents and patients from all over North Carolina and the country. Contact us to discuss your options and plan a visit to begin bracing treatment. We can help assist you with accommodations in the area and make you aware of many recreational activities in the area during your stay. If you travel from another state, special arrangements will be made to assist you over a 2 day period to minimize time away from work or school.

We are currently involved with research to further the scientific base of knowledge supporting pectus bracing. We are examining pressures to begin to understand when pectus bracing is most effective and when surgery may be considered. Jim Del Bianco presented his treatment protocol at the 35th Annual Meeting and Scientific Symposium hosted by AAOP titled “The Orthotic Management of Pectus Carinatum”.

DBPO also presented at the Association of Children’s Prosthetic and Orthotic Clinics (ACPOC) with our Study on the Effectiveness and Compliance of Pectus Orthoses in 2022. This study found that when our patients were compliant with our wear schedule, the reported effectiveness of the pectus orthosis was 80% versus 36% when non-compliant.

1. A Less Intensive Bracing Protocol for Pectus Carinatum
2. Bracing in Pediatric Patients with Pectus Carinatum is Effective and Improves Quality of Life
3. Bracing is an Effective Therapy for Pectus Carinatum
4. Factors Affecting Patient Compliance with Compressive Brace Therapy for Pectus Carinatum
5. Measured Dynamic Compression for Pectus Carinatum
6. Pectus Carinamtum- The Effects of Orthotic Bracing on Pulmonary Function and Gradual Compression on Patient Compliance
7. Pectus Carinatum Evaluation Questionnaire (PCEQ)- A Novel Tool to Improve the Follow-Up in Patients Treated With Brace Compression
8. Pectus Carinatum
9. Success and Duration of Dynamic Bracing for Pectus Carinatum- A Four Year Prospective Study 
10. The Dynamic Compression Brace for Pectus Carinatum- Intermediate Results in 286 Patients
11. Fonkalsrud E. Surgical correction of pectus carinatum: lessons learned from 260 patients. J pediatr Surg 2008:43:1235-1243.
12. Banever GT, Konefal SH, Gettens K, et al. Nonoperative correction of pectus carinatum with orthotic bracing. J laparoendoscopic & advanced surgical techniques 2006;16:2:164-167.
13. Kravarusic D, Dicken B, Dewar R, et al. The Calgary protocol for bracing of pectus carinatum: a preliminary report. J pediatr surg 2006;41:923-926.
14. Frey AS, Garcia VF, Brown RL, et al. Nonoperative management of pectus carinatum. J pediatr surg 2006;41:40-45.
15. Martinez-Ferro M, Fraire C, Bernard S. Dynamic compression system for the correction of pectus carinatum. S pediatr surg 2008; 17:194-200.