Improving Quality of Life With Dynamic Compression Bracing in Patients With Pectus Carinatum

Background

Patients with pectus carinatum have lower quality of life and self-esteem than their peers. We assessed the impact of dynamic compression system bracing on quality of life in patients with pectus carinatum.

Methods

We conducted a prospective cohort study on patients aged 10–21 years. We assessed quality of life using the Child Health Questionnaire-87, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-6, the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF, the 36-Item Short Form Survey, and the Single-Step Questionnaire adapted for pectus carinatum.

Results

Between March 2013 and March 2016, 225 patients treated with dynamic compression system bracing were included. Patients showed improvements across the overall scores of the 36-Item Short Form Survey (Δ7.7 (2.9–12.4)), Single-Step Questionnaire (Δ4.1 (2.0–6.3)) and three out of four World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF domains (physical health (Δ8.7 (3.7–13.7)), psychological health (Δ11.8 (6.1–17.5)), environment (Δ5.7 (0.2–11.3))). No changes across the Child Health Questionnaire-87 overall score were observed (Δ5.5 (−0.5–11.5)). Most improvement occurred within six to twelve months after treatment initiation, stabilizing thereafter. Anxiety scores on the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-6 did not improve (Δ0.5 (−0.1–1.2)). Scores on physical complaints, pain, psychological health and self-esteem/self-image improved across all questionnaires. In contrast to the successfully treated group, the unsuccessfully treated group showed no improvement on any of the questionnaires. Most patients (87.2 %) would choose bracing again, 94.9 % of patients were satisfied with the treatment.

Conclusions

Dynamic compression system bracing improves quality of life, reduces physical complaints and pain and boosts psychological health and self-esteem in patients with pectus carinatum.