Kansas City,
08
December
2017
|
11:04 AM
America/Chicago

Bracing for Pectus Carinatum Helps Leavenworth Swimmer Reach His Goals

An Eagle Scout, life guard and avid swimmer, 17-year-old Weston Marshall also has pectus carinatum, a condition characterized by an abnormal overgrowth of the rib cartilages, resulting in a protrusion of the sternum. Pectus carinatum is seen four times more often in males than in females. It also can be detected at any time, from infancy through puberty.

In Weston’s case, pectus had caused an almost shark fin-like protrusion from the center of his chest. “Weston’s pectus became much more apparent at about age 15 as he went through puberty, and it was very pointed,” said his mother, Marlee.

Though pectus caused no other physical complications, it was a concern for Weston and his parents. When the Marshalls, who live in Lansing, Kan., began researching the problem online, they found information about surgery, and assumed their son might need an operation to correct the pectus.

“I was concerned that I wouldn’t be able to swim for several months if I had to have surgery,” Weston said.

After bringing the issue to the attention of Weston’s primary care provider, he received a referral to the Center for Pectus Excavatum and Pectus Carinatum at Children’s Mercy Kansas City, the only center dedicated to treating pectus in the region.

At his first consultation with Shawn St. Peter, MD, Chair, Department of Surgery at Children’s Mercy, Weston and his family learned nearly every pectus carinatum case at Children’s Mercy is corrected without surgery.

“Dr. St. Peter said they only do surgery for pectus carinatum in extreme cases,” Marlee explained. “Instead, he recommended bracing for Weston with the dynamic compression device.”

Children’s Mercy has the most experience with this brace in the United States. The brace corrects the abnormal chest shape and allows remodeling by applying external compression, similar to the way braces correct crooked teeth.

The patient usually wears the brace six to 20 months, 23 to 24 hours a day. Adjustments are made at regular intervals, usually every two months. Once the deformity is corrected, the patient still wears the brace in a “retainer” mode.

Because this cartilage hardens as the individual reaches adulthood, pectus carinatum patients have a limited window of opportunity to correct the problem, usually during puberty when the cartilage is still pliable.

After his consultation, Weston decided to move forward with treatment, receiving his custom-made brace Oct. 20, 2016.

 

Nearly every pectus carinatum case at Children's Mercy is corrected without surgery. This video details the dynamic bracing system that was used on Weston and hundreds of other patients to successfuly correct pectus carinatum. 

Weston, who also wears braces on his teeth, said the brace he wears for pectus is very similar. “The brace is a little uncomfortable at first or when it gets adjusted,” he said.

“My biggest concern was what it would look like,” Weston added, “but you can’t tell I’m wearing it unless I have a tight-fitting shirt on.”

Weston doesn’t wear his brace when swimming or working out, but typically sleeps with it on. The “shark fin” that originally brought him to the clinic has flattened out considerably, but he will continue to wear the brace, probably until he graduates from high school.

Originally from a military family, Weston, who is a junior at Leavenworth High School, hopes to continue swimming in college and attend West Point.

“The Children’s Mercy team has been amazing,” Marlee said. “They know Weston’s goals and why this is important to him. For other families who might be concerned about pectus, I would tell them to come in and talk with the professionals at Children’s Mercy. It was such a relief to know the Pectus Center was right in our own backyard.”

 

Learn more about the Center for Pectus Excavatum and Carinatum at Children's Mercy.