My son’s is 12 ½ years old. He has recently been diagnosed with Pectus Carinatum that is a malformation of the chest characterized by a protrusion of the sternum and ribs.

His Pectus is getting worse with each growth spurt. He also has mild scoliosis that is due to the PC. Over the last Month he has now developed asthma and has been prescribed an inhaler. Again this is due to the PC. He also suffers with chest pains which are getting worse over time. He is getting out of breath easily and his stamina is decreasing due to the way the lungs are being twisted and not working as expected

There is a treatment option of a Pectus brace that is not funded by the NHS, I have been advised that this could range from £2000 - £3000 dependent on when we look at getting it. We are waiting on the next appointment to come through to discuss when he can have this done. His specialist has already advised this will be the best option at this time, and on our next appointment we will discuss dates for this to be sorted (measured, made and fitted) We are looking at getting this for Ethan as the 2nd option is not what we want and the cardiothoracic surgeon Ethan is under advised that the brace for his age would be best.

Please find below some of the most asked questions about the brace

What Is a Pectus Carinatum Brace? - It's a lightweight brace that's custom-made for a child. It wraps around the chest and puts pressure on the front part of the chest that sticks out.

How Does a Pectus Carinatum Brace Work? -Similar to how braces realign teeth, a chest brace will push the breastbone back to a normal position. Your child's health care provider will see your child regularly and adjust the pressure of the brace so it can work but still be comfortable.

How Long Do Kids Need to Wear the Brace? -Most kids will wear a brace for 6 months to a year, though some will need one for longer. They usually can remove it for sports, showering, and other activities, but usually must wear it for 8 to 23 hours a day dependent on the severity

The alternative option is Surgery when he is older. This would mean months of recovery and I don't want to go into the ins and outs of what they would do to correct his Pectus and Scoliosis but it is not nice and would be alot for him to go through. Also by the time this option is viable (when he stops growing) the condition will be worse.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pectus_carinatum