What should I do if my baby has pigeon chest?

Pectus carinatum, commonly known as “pigeon chest,” is a frequent thoracic deformity generally attributed to excessive growth of the ribs and costal cartilages. The sternal deformity is typically secondary to rib abnormalities but may also arise secondary to intrathoracic pathology.

In affected children, pectus carinatum often remains undetected before age 5–6, especially in cases with mild symptoms.For children with mild disease, non-surgical correction is usually recommended. A common approach involves external thoracic compression devices—such as custom-fitted orthopedic braces—to alleviate or correct the deformity.

Early orthotic treatment yields highly favorable outcomes in children with pectus carinatum.In severe cases, surgical intervention is generally required. The two primary surgical techniques are sternal turnover (or “flip”) and sternal depression (or “sinking”) procedures. Given their relatively substantial invasiveness, these surgeries must be performed only when strict surgical indications are met.