Flat pectus carinatum is a rare chest wall deformity that, while resembling pectus carinatum in appearance, significantly differs in bone structure. Therefore, the surgical treatments effective for pectus carinatum are not applicable to this condition. To ensure a precise diagnosis and appropriate treatment, Dr. Wenlin Wang has named this condition flat pectus carinatum, distinctly differentiating it from pectus carinatum.

Essentially, flat pectus carinatum is one of the complex chest wall deformities characterized by both concavity and convexity. It manifests as a forward protrusion of the anterior chest wall, accompanied by a localized vertical groove-like depression in the center.

Due to the limited extent and depth of flat pectus carinatum, most patients do not experience noticeable symptoms. Occasionally, some patients have severe indentations that compress the heart, leading to symptoms related to the respiratory and circulatory systems, such as chest tightness, shortness of breath, and palpitations.

Additionally, as a type of chest wall deformity, flat pectus excavatum can cause many patients to feel distressed about their appearance, which may lead to a range of psychological issues.

The precise causes of flat pectus carinatum remain unclear, but they are likely linked to genetic factors or malnutrition.​​​ The precise causes of flat pectus carinatum remain unclear, but they are likely linked to genetic factors or malnutrition. ​ ​ ​ Diagnostic Methods

Diagnosis primarily involves a physical examination by observing the appearance of the chest wall, supplemented by imaging examination such as X-ray, chest CT scan, and three-dimensional reconstruction imaging.

Wenlin procedure+Wang procedure

As the flat pectus carinatum combines both convex deformity and concave deformity, it cannot be treated with a single surgical procedure typical for either pectus carinatum or pectus excavatum alone. Therefore, it is necessary to integrate the operational steps and techniques of these two surgical methods to correct the malformation.