Pectus Carinatum

In most children, there isn’t one clear cause. It’s thought to relate to how the cartilage between the ribs and breastbone grows. It often becomes more obvious around puberty.

Sometimes pectus carinatum is seen alongside other conditions such as scoliosis, or connective tissue disorders (for example Marfan syndrome or Ehlers-Danlos syndrome). This doesn’t mean your child has these conditions—but it’s one reason your specialist may ask extra questions or arrange further checks.

Pectus carinatum usually becomes more noticeable during growth spurts, and it doesn’t typically “go away” on its own. The good news is that many children who are still growing respond well to bracing because the chest wall is more flexible at this stage.

Bracing is most effective when it’s started at the right time and worn as prescribed. Your team will guide you on what’s realistic for your child, and the plan is usually adjusted over time as the chest shape changes and your child grows.

Evidence supports bracing for pectus carinatum, and results can be very positive when wear time is consistent and the brace is well fitted and adjusted over time. Motivation and a supportive plan make a real difference.

A key part of success is wearing the brace for the prescribed hours. Even small changes in wear time can affect progress, so we focus on comfort, clear guidance, and practical routines that help families stay on track.

The brace is worn around the chest and sits under clothing. Our job is to make it as comfortable and practical as possible by getting the fit right, teaching you how to use it, and reviewing regularly as your child grows and changes.

To start pectus bracing at Orthokids, you’ll need a referral from a specialist confirming bracing is appropriate. This ensures the right treatment is chosen at the right time.

If you’re not sure how to organise this, get in touch and we can help guide you.

If your specialist has recommended bracing, we’re here to make the process clear and manageable—starting with an assessment, 3D scan, and a custom brace plan with regular reviews to support the best possible outcome.

At your first Orthokids appointment, we’ll:

• Talk through your child’s history, goals, and what matters day to day (sport, school, comfort, confidence).
• Assess chest wall flexibility and the pattern/severity of the prominence.
• Use 3D scanning to capture an accurate shape of the chest. This helps us plan brace design and gives a clear baseline to track change over time.

We’ll then fit the brace with a focus on:

• Safe, controlled pressure
• Comfort and skin care
• Practical wearing and adjustment instructions
• A clear plan for wear time and follow-up

During reviews, we check fit, comfort, skin, wear routine, and progress. As treatment progresses, we’ll also plan the pathway to reducing wear time and finishing treatment safely.

Bracing is not a “set and forget” treatment. Ongoing review appointments are an important part of the process, because:

• Your child grows (and the brace needs to keep fitting well)
• The chest shape changes (and the brace needs adjusting to stay effective)
• Comfort and wear time can be improved with small tweaks