Nuss procedure

The Nuss procedure is a minimally invasive surgery used to correct pectus excavatum, a condition where the breastbone is sunken into the chest. During the procedure, a surgeon inserts one or more curved metal bars behind the sternum through small chest incisions. These bars push the depressed bone outward, restoring a normal chest shape. The bars stay in place for about two to three years, gradually reshaping the chest. Once the desired correction is achieved, the bars are removed in a separate procedure. The Nuss procedure typically results in improved breathing, heart function, and chest appearance.