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Does physiotherapy applied in conjunction with compression brace treatment in patients with pectus carinatum have efficacy? A preliminary randomized-controlled study

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Abstract

Purpose

Non-invasive treatment of pectus carinatum (PC) deformity includes the use of a compression brace and exercises. In this study, we aimed to examine the effect of a physiotherapy protocol applied as adjunct to compression brace treatment in patients with PC.

Methods

The study included 30 male patients between 11 and 18 years of age. Patients were randomly assigned into two groups: a brace treatment only group (Group 1) and a brace and physiotherapy group (Group 2). Patient demographics and disease-related properties, protrusion measurements, postural evaluations, deformity perceptions, life quality, and treatment satisfaction were evaluated.

Results

Although both groups showed improvements based on external chest measurements related to PC protrusion following treatment (p < 0.001), Group 2 had more benefit from the treatment (effect size > 0.36) and displayed greater improvement in maximum protrusion degree and lateral length values (p < 0.05). Additionally, we found that patient perception of deformity, posture, psychological life quality, and treatment satisfaction scores were significantly better in Group 2 (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Owing to the satisfaction and additional benefits observed in the physiotherapy group, we think that a proper cardiopulmonary and musculoskeletal exercise program should be applied concurrently with brace treatment for patients with PC deformity. Nevertheless, long-term outcomes need to be clarified in future studies.

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Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences, Acibadem Mehmet Ali Aydinlar University, Kerem Aydınlar Kampusu, Icerenkoy Mah. Kayısdagı Cad. No:32, Atasehir, 34752, Istanbul, Turkey

    Nuray Alaca & İhsan Alaca

  2. Chest Wall Deformities and Pectus Association, Zuhtupasa Mah. Kadıkoy, Istanbul, Turkey

    İhsan Alaca & Mustafa Yüksel

Authors
  1. Nuray Alaca
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  2. İhsan Alaca
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  3. Mustafa Yüksel
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Contributions

The first draft of the manuscript was written by NA and all authors commented on the previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Nuray Alaca.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

The Research Ethics Committee of Acıbadem University and Acıbadem Healthcare Group has approved the study (reference no. ATADEK-2019–14/11). All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration.

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Alaca, N., Alaca, İ. & Yüksel, M. Does physiotherapy applied in conjunction with compression brace treatment in patients with pectus carinatum have efficacy? A preliminary randomized-controlled study. Pediatr Surg Int 36, 789–797 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00383-020-04675-3

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