Chest wall abnormalities that impact breathing, circulation, and outward appearance can have a significant impact on a child’s health and well-being. Columbia’s Pectus and Chest Wall Program offers the latest treatment options for children and adolescents with chest wall anomalies like pectus excavatum and pectus carinatum.
- Columbia offers the latest surgical approaches to help correct these conditions.
- We have expertise in nonsurgical treatments that use bracing to reshape the chest over time.
- We work with specialists in cardiology and pulmonology, genetics, and radiology to monitor your child’s condition and develop a personalized treatment plan.
To learn more or to make an appointment with the Columbia Pectus and Chest Wall Program, please call (212) 305-3408 for adults and (212) 342-8585 for pediatrics or use our appointment request form.
Who We Treat
We diagnose and treat patients with all types of chest abnormalities, including those associated with genetic conditions that also affect development in other areas of the body.
What Are Chest Wall Abnormalities?
A chest wall abnormality is a structural deformity of the chest caused by uneven growth in the cartilage that connects the ribs. This growth can dramatically affect the shape and movement of the rib cage. These conditions are usually congenital in nature and may be evident in early childhood and infancy; the severity of the malformation usually progresses rapidly during adolescence.
The most common chest wall abnormalities are:
- Pectus excavatum – The ribs curve inward, causing the sternum (breastbone) to cave in toward the spine. This can compress the heart and restrict expansion of the lungs during breathing.
Learn More About Pectus Excavatum
- Pectus carinatum – The ribs curve out from the chest, causing the sternum to protrude outward.
In addition to issues like impaired breathing and circulation, children and adolescents with chest wall abnormalities may experience psychosocial issues stemming from their appearance.
Conditions We Treat
- Pectus excavatum
- Pectus carinatum
- Pectus arcuatum
- Jeune syndrome
- Poland syndrome
- Other defects of the ribs and sternum
Treatments We Offer
- Bracing – Pectus Carinatum
- Modified Ravitch procedure
- Nuss procedure
- Nonsurgical alternatives (for pectus carinatum)
- Slipping Rib Syndrome
- Vacuum Bell Non-operative management of Pectus Excavatum
Program Highlights
An Experienced Team
At Columbia, we have experience evaluating, monitoring, and treating all types of chest wall anomalies. We offer the latest surgical techniques to minimize discomfort and speed up recovery.
Multidisciplinary Care From Experts
Our pediatric surgeons collaborate with specialists from cardiology, pulmonology, genetics, and radiology to provide comprehensive care for our patients—including those with severe, complex abnormalities affecting both the chest wall and spine.
A Full Range of Treatment Options
Our experts create personalized treatment plans designed for your child’s individual needs. In addition to using the latest surgical approaches, we have extensive experience with a minimally invasive treatment that uses bracing as a possible alternative to surgery.
Our Team
Lyall A. Gorenstein, MD, FRCS(C), FACS
Our Locations
Manhattan
CUIMC/Herbert Irving Pavilion
161 Fort Washington Avenue
Floor 3
New York, NY 10032
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NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of New York
3959 Broadway (166th Street and Broadway)
New York, NY 10032
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5A Medical Park Drive
Pomona NY, 10970
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Westchester
ColumbiaDoctors Children's Health
15 North Broadway, Floor: Lower Level , Suite: G
White Plains, NY 10601
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New Jersey
Englewood, NJ – 500 Grand Avenue
500 Grand Avenue
Englewood, NJ 07631
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Englewood, NJ – 25 Rockwood Avenue
25 Rockwood Ave
Suite 330
Englewood NJ, 07631
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Make an Appointment
If your child has been diagnosed with a chest wall abnormality, Columbia can help. Please call (212) 305-3408 for adults and (212) 342-8585 for pediatrics or use our appointment request form to connect with the Pectus and Chest Wall Program at Columbia today. We accept a number of insurance plans, and our team can help confirm your coverage.
Resources & More
Stories & Perspectives
- Pectus Excavatum and Tyler’s Road to Finding Breath and Balance
- I Love The Skin I Am In – Life After Nuss Procedure for Chest Deformity
View all thoracic news
View all pediatrics news