Radiological evaluation of the eighth thoracic vertebra rotation in the pectus excavatum

Objective

The main objective was to find the difference between the rotation of the eighth thoracic vertebra in symmetric and dissymmetric pectus excavatum in children.

Material and methods

An analysis of pre-operational 82 CT in children with the pectus excavatum deformity was made. Patients were divided into two groups depending on the chest deformation ; the first one consisted of patients with symmetric pectus excavatum, there were 48 patients (9 girls, 39 boys), the mean age was 12,8 years (4-16), the average Haller index was 3,6 (2,2-7,1); in the second group with dissymmetric pectus excavatum there were 35 patients (8 girls, 27 boys), the mean age was 11,8 years (7-17), the average Haller index was 2,9 (2,4-5,8).

Results

In the first group the rotation of the eighth thoracic vertebra was found in 60,4% (29 patients), with mean rotation angle of 6,29 (2,6-32), the average Haller index was 3,7 (2,2-7,1), In the second group there were 45,7 % (16 patients) with the mean rotation angle of 4,72 (2,4-10,5), the average Haller index was 5(2,4-4,9).

Conclusion

The rotation of the eighth thoracic vertebra is significantly more common in symmetric pectus excavatum in children than in dissymmetric deformity.