People with pectus carinatum usually develop normal hearts and lungs, but the malformation may prevent these from functioning optimally.
Children with pectus malformations often tire sooner than their peers due to shortness of breath and fatigue.
Connective tissue disorders involving structural abnormalities of the major blood vessels and heart valves are also seen.
For others, though, the shape of the chest can damage their self-image and confidence, possibly disrupting social connections and causing them to feel uncomfortable throughout adolescence and adulthood.
Pectus carinatum can also be caused by vitamin D deficiency in children (Rickets) due to deposition of unmineralized osteoid.
The least common is a pectus carinatum malformation following open-heart surgery or in children with poorly controlled bronchial asthma.
[citation needed] The use of orthotic bracing, pioneered by Sydney Haje as of 1977, is finding increasing acceptance as an alternative to surgery in select cases of pectus carinatum.
[5] In children, teenagers, and young adults who have pectus carinatum and are motivated to avoid surgery, the use of a customized chest-wall brace that applies direct pressure on the protruding area of the chest produces excellent outcomes.
[citation needed] Willingness to wear the brace as required is essential for the success of this treatment approach.
[citation needed] Bracing is becoming more popular over surgery for pectus carinatum, mostly because it eliminates the risks accompanying it.
The prescribing of bracing as a treatment for pectus carinatum has 'trickled down' from both pediatric and thoracic surgeons to the family physician and pediatricians again due to its lower risks and well-documented very high successful results.
Some severe cases treated with bracing may result in enough improvement that the patient is happy with the outcome and may not want surgery afterward.
[citation needed] Some plastic surgeons perform breast augmentation to disguise mild to moderate cases in women.
[citation needed] Bodybuilding exercises (often attempted to cover the defect with pectoral muscles) will not alter the ribs and cartilage of the chest wall and are generally considered not harmful.
[citation needed] Most insurance companies no longer consider chest wall malformations like pectus carinatum to be purely cosmetic conditions.