Chest Wall Deformity

This prospective single-group study will evaluate anterior aesthetic rib cage remodeling with osteosynthesis (ARCO) in adults with anteroinferior rib prominence or deformity. The procedure modifies and stabilizes ribs 6 through 8. Inferior rib cage perimeter, CT findings, spirometry, intraoperative respiratory variables, BODY-Q Chest scores, and complications will be assessed through 12 months. The primary outcomes are one-year perimeter change and major procedure-related complications.

Patients requiring thoracic reconstruction often suffer from numerous comorbidities, such as obesity, diabetes, atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases. The clinical picture of these patients must be carefully stabilized in the preoperative period since the listed diseases are associated with a poor reconstructive outcome. Furthermore, it is necessary to preoperatively determine the spirometric characteristics in cases where the intervention may alter the respiratory dynamics to evaluate the patient's ability to tolerate the procedure. The primary objective of the study is to identify the best diagnostic-therapeutic approach in cases of complex chest wall defects, retrospectively evaluating the outcomes and therapeutic choices implemented, through a reassessment of the interventions performed and the clinical progress of patients undergoing complex thoracic and sternal reconstruction interventions managed in a multidisciplinary and non-multidisciplinary manner