Abstract：Objective: To investigate the incidence of scoliosis and flat chest in pectus excavatum patients. Methods: One hundred and seventy-one cases of pectus excavatum patients before the operation were included in this study. Postero-anterior and lateral chest radiography, and chest CT were performed. The incidence of flat chest and scoliosis were investigated, the relationship between Haller index, Cobb angle, chest flat index, chest shape index and age were analyzed. The relationship between Cobb angle, chest flat index, chest shape index and Haller index were analyzed too. Results: In 171 cases of pectus excavatum patients, 39 cases were 3~10 years old, 92 cases were 11~17 years old, 40 cases were older than 18 years. The cases of Cobb angle >10° were 20.5%, the extent of scoliosis and age have a certain relationship, and the extent of scoliosis of the adolescent and adult groups were more severe than the group with scoliosis; Scoliosis has nothing to do with the Haller index. The cases of flat chest were 17.0%, the extent of flat chest has nothing to do with age, but there was some correlation with the Haller index. The values of chest flat index and chest shape index in patients whose Haller index ≥3.5 were higher than the two groups whose Haller index <3.5. Conclusions: The incidence of flat chest and scoliosis was higher in pectus excavatum than general population, but the correlation needs further proof. The flat chest and scoliosis should be added to the diagnosis of pectus excavatum in some occasions. We should think some necessary treatments in those pectus excavatum’s surgeries.
2011, Vol. 22 
