{"id":1402,"date":"2026-04-09T13:56:34","date_gmt":"2026-04-09T13:56:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/darkcyan-pheasant-754087.hostingersite.com\/?page_id=1402"},"modified":"2026-04-12T15:09:13","modified_gmt":"2026-04-12T15:09:13","slug":"lapsen-kuopparinta","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/lastenkirurgia.fi\/en\/lapsen-kuopparinta\/","title":{"rendered":"Child&#039;s dimpled chest"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"1402\" class=\"elementor elementor-1402\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a863414 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"a863414\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3d2f344 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3d2f344\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 data-path-to-node=\"2\">A guide for parents: Child&#039;s pectus excavatum<\/h2><p data-path-to-node=\"3\">A pectoralis major is the most common congenital structural abnormality of the chest, in which the sternum is sunken inward, forming a cup-shaped cavity. It is significantly more common in boys than in girls.<\/p><h3 data-path-to-node=\"4\">What causes a dimpled chest?<\/h3><p data-path-to-node=\"5\">The abnormality is believed to be caused by an overgrowth of the rib cartilage, which pushes the sternum inward. Often, the pitting chest only becomes clearly visible during the growth spurt of puberty. Although the condition is congenital, it is most often harmless and purely cosmetic.<\/p><h3 data-path-to-node=\"6\">Symptoms and disadvantages<\/h3><p data-path-to-node=\"7\">For many children, dimpled chest does not cause any physical symptoms. The problems are usually divided into two groups:<\/p><ul data-path-to-node=\"8\"><li><p data-path-to-node=\"8,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"8,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Cosmetic and mental impairment:<\/b> The most common reason for seeking treatment. A young person may find the dimple disturbing, for example in a swimming pool or during exercise classes, which can affect self-esteem.<\/p><\/li><li><p data-path-to-node=\"8,1,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"8,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Physical symptoms:<\/b> In deeper cases of pitting chest, shortness of breath, poor exercise tolerance, chest pain, or palpitations, especially with exertion, may occur. This is because the sternum may be pressing on the heart or restricting lung expansion.<\/p><\/li><\/ul><h3 data-path-to-node=\"9\">Research<\/h3><p data-path-to-node=\"10\">If your child has a dimpled chest, the doctor may refer them to a specialist hospital based on a simple external examination. The hospital may perform more detailed tests:<\/p><ul data-path-to-node=\"11\"><li><p data-path-to-node=\"11,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"11,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI):<\/b> The exact depth of the pit and its effect on the heart are being determined.<\/p><\/li><li><p data-path-to-node=\"11,1,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"11,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Spirometry:<\/b> Lung volume and function are measured.<\/p><\/li><li><p data-path-to-node=\"11,2,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"11,2,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">ELECTROCARDIOGRAM:<\/b> The electrical activity of the heart is checked.<\/p><\/li><\/ul><h3 data-path-to-node=\"12\">Treatment options<\/h3><p data-path-to-node=\"13\">Mild and asymptomatic pitting of the chest does not require treatment. Physiotherapy or exercise will not eliminate the pitting, but good muscle tone and posture can improve the appearance of the chest.<\/p><p data-path-to-node=\"14\"><b data-path-to-node=\"14\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Surgical treatment (Nuss surgery):<\/b> If the pit is deep or causes significant discomfort, it can be repaired with surgery.<\/p><ul data-path-to-node=\"15\"><li><p data-path-to-node=\"15,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"15,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">How is it done?<\/b> The most common method is laparoscopic surgery, in which 1\u20132 shaped steel implants are inserted under the sternum. These lift the sternum up.<\/p><\/li><li><p data-path-to-node=\"15,1,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"15,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">At what age?<\/b> The most suitable age is usually 12\u201316 years, when the chest is still flexible but strong enough.<\/p><\/li><li><p data-path-to-node=\"15,2,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"15,2,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Recovery:<\/b> Hospitalization often lasts only a few days thanks to current pain management methods (such as cold therapy of the nerves). Strenuous exercise and contact sports should be avoided for about 3 months after surgery.<\/p><\/li><li><p data-path-to-node=\"15,3,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"15,3,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Implant removal:<\/b> The steel supports are removed in a minor procedure after about four years, when the chest has permanently reshaped into its new position.<\/p><\/li><\/ul><h3 data-path-to-node=\"16\">When to see a doctor?<\/h3><p data-path-to-node=\"17\">It is recommended to discuss the matter with a doctor if:<\/p><ol start=\"1\" data-path-to-node=\"18\"><li><p data-path-to-node=\"18,0,0\">The pit is deep or it deepens rapidly with growth.<\/p><\/li><li><p data-path-to-node=\"18,1,0\">The child becomes unusually short of breath or complains of chest pain upon exertion.<\/p><\/li><li><p data-path-to-node=\"18,2,0\">A dimpled chest causes the child or young person clear psychological harm or a desire to isolate themselves from social situations.<\/p><\/li><\/ol><p>Duodecim article<\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.duodecimlehti.fi\/duo17674\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.duodecimlehti.fi\/duo17674<\/a><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Opas vanhemmille: Lapsen kuopparinta (Pectus excavatum) Kuopparinta on rintakeh\u00e4n yleisin synnynn\u00e4inen rakennepoikkeama, jossa rintalasta on painunut sis\u00e4\u00e4np\u00e4in muodostaen kuppimaisen kuopan. Se on huomattavasti yleisempi pojilla kuin tyt\u00f6ill\u00e4. Mist\u00e4 kuopparinta johtuu? Poikkeaman uskotaan johtuvan kylkirustojen liikakasvusta, joka painaa rintalastaa sis\u00e4\u00e4np\u00e4in. Usein kuopparinta tulee selv\u00e4sti esiin vasta murrosi\u00e4n kasvupyr\u00e4hdyksen yhteydess\u00e4. Vaikka tila on synnynn\u00e4inen, se on useimmiten [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_angie_page":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"no-sidebar","site-content-layout":"page-builder","ast-site-content-layout":"full-width-container","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"disabled","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1402","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastenkirurgia.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1402","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastenkirurgia.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastenkirurgia.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastenkirurgia.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastenkirurgia.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1402"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/lastenkirurgia.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1402\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1631,"href":"https:\/\/lastenkirurgia.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1402\/revisions\/1631"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastenkirurgia.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1402"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}