Chest wall deformities are divided as an abnormal development during the growth or those secondary to a congenital malformation. The developmental type is the most common: pectus excavatum or pectus carinatum. The less common are the congenital types of chest wall abnormalities: Poland's syndrome, Jeune's syndrome, espondylothoracic dysplasia, espondylocostal dysplasia and defects of the ribs or sternum. The congenital type usually affects the relationship between the spine, rib cage and the lungs. Therefore, many of these patients will develop a progressive respiratory disturbance of restrictive type known as Thoracic Insufficiency Syndrome. Thoracic insufficiency syndrome is defining as a deficiency of the rib cage to maintain a normal respiration and to sustain the physiological growth of the lungs. In this article will discuss several conditions that will affect the development and function of the chest wall.
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