Deformities of the female breasts after surgery for funnel chest.

A follow-up study of patients who had undergone surgery for funnel chest in the period 1962 to 1980 revealed that the operation had been performed for cosmetic reasons on four prepubertal girls. A bow-shaped inframammary incision had been attempted in all cases. At follow-up examination, 13 to 17 years later, the scars were situated across the breasts in all four patients. Scars after a pleural drain and removal of the Sulamma struts could also be seen in two of the patients. One patient had undergone plastic surgery for reconstruction of both breasts. In all operative procedures on the thorax in children, a distance of 3 to 5 cm from the areola should be maintained, depending on the patient's age, in order to avoid damage to breast tissue. In particular, it would seem advantageous to employ a vertical sternal incision at operation for funnel chest.