Ankara Etlik City Hospital Chest, Cardiovascular Diseases Hospital
What is Thoracic Wall?
What are Thorax Wall Diseases?
The thoracic wall is the structures that protect our heart and lungs, consisting of bones and muscles, and allow us to breathe. The ribs and sternum (board of faith) form the bone structure. Congenital anomalies of the thoracic wall (shoemaker's chest, pigeon's chest), benign tumors (chondroma, lipoma, osteoma, etc.), malignant tumors (chondrosarcoma, osteosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, etc.). These diseases can be treated surgically. Especially shoemaker and pigeon chest can be treated with non-surgical method (vacuum bell) in suitable cases recently.
Thoracic Wall Disorders;
What is Pectus Excavatum ( Shoemaker Chest )?
Thorax Wall Diseases Short Facts
What is Pectus Carinatum?
Pigeon Breast
Pigeon Breast (Pectus Carinatum) Pigeon chest refers to the outward protrusion of the sinew and ribs. It is a form of deformity that is the opposite of the shoemaker's chest. It occurs with the deterioration of the cartilages that connect the ribs to the breastbone.
In the long term, it can prevent the lungs from expanding sufficiently due to the stiffness in the rib cage, causing a decrease in respiratory capacity, shortness of breath, rapid breathing and inflammation in the lungs.
If the pressure is measured below 10 kg/cm2 with special equipment that measures the force pressure applied from the point where the deformity is most prominent to the level where the chest wall reaches the desired position according to the thoracic rigidity/flexibility status of the patients, orthotic treatment is recommended. After treatment for more than 12 hours a day, usually 6 months, in many patients, regression of the deformity and high patient satisfaction were observed.
They can originate from the bone, cartilage and soft tissues that make up the chest wall. Chest wall tumors are divided into two groups according to their behavior: benign and malignant. Chest wall tumors can occur at any age. Tumors originating from the bones and cartilages forming the chest wall constitute the majority of chest wall tumors.
Postero-anterior chest X-ray is helpful in the diagnosis. Thorax CT is a better method to provide information about the tumor. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a preferred method in chest wall tumors. Tissue samples for histopathological examination can be performed by percutaneous needle biopsy, incisional or excisional open biopsies.
Our thoracic cage consists of the anterior sternum, which is popularly known as the sternum, in the front, the vertebrae in the back, and 12 pairs of ribs extending horizontally to each other between these two structures. Although this structure is bone, it is actually flexible and helps the breathing process with the help of the muscles between the ribs. Our ribs can be broken due to traffic accidents and falling from a height, as well as due to simple falls, impacts, blunt injuries. Rib fractures occur not only due to external factors, but also due to severe coughing in patients with osteoporosis in advanced ages.
Treatment of rib fractures is done with pain relievers, muscle relaxants and sputum thinners that help sputum to come out easily. The patient is advised to rest. It is recommended to lie in a light sitting position. Cast treatment used for fractures in other bones is not performed because the flexibility of the rib cage must continue during the breathing process. Wearing a corset is not recommended.
The sternum, known as the breastbone in the human body, is the name given to the part located between the left and right rib bones. Due to its location, it has a very important position in the body. Together with the lungs, it takes on the task of protecting the heart against injury. Due to its current position, most pain experienced in the sternum can be confused with a heart attack.