# Ten Years of Abramson Experience in Patients With Pectus Carinatum

## TL;DR

This study reviews 86 pectus carinatum patients treated with the Abramson procedure, showing high satisfaction and low complications over ten years.

## Contribution

The first report of patient satisfaction scores for the Abramson procedure in treating pectus carinatum.

## Key findings

- 94.2% of patients had no early postoperative complications.
- Mean hospitalization was 3.7 days, and 87.2% had bars removed after 25-36 months.
- Mean patient satisfaction score was 88.56 using the Single Step Questionnaire.

## Abstract

Pectus carinatum is the second most common congenital chest wall deformity. While open thoracic reconstruction surgeries like the Ravitch procedure remain a treatment option, minimally invasive techniques such as the Abramson procedure are increasingly preferred. This study presents our clinical experience with the Abramson procedure for pectus carinatum.

A retrospective review was conducted on 86 patients who underwent the Abramson procedure in the Department of Thoracic Surgery at Dokuz Eylul University between 2011 and 2021. Data were collected on age, gender, the number of bars and stabilizers used, postoperative complications, associated anomalies, hospitalization, and bar removal time. All patients completed the newly developed Single Step Questionnaire (SSQ) by Krasopoulos to assess their satisfaction.

All patients underwent bilateral 2-incision procedures using 1 bar and 2 stabilizers. Early postoperative complications were absent in 94.2% (n = 81) of patients, while late complications were not recorded in 91.8% of patients (n = 79). Associated anomalies included scoliosis (n = 5), kyphosis (n = 1), and kyphoscoliosis (n = 1). The mean hospitalization was 3.7 days. Bars were removed in 75 patients (87.2%), most commonly between the 25th and 36th months postoperatively. The mean satisfaction score was 88.56.

The Abramson technique is a safe, minimally invasive option for selected pectus carinatum cases, offering shorter hospital stays and better aesthetic outcomes compared to open techniques. This study is the first to report satisfaction survey results for the Abramson procedure, highlighting its high patient satisfaction rates.

Pectus carinatum (PC) is a congenital chest wall deformity characterized by anterior protrusion of the sternum and costal cartilages due to abnormal growth, with a prevalence of approximately 0.06%.