Magnetic Mini-Mover Procedure to Treat Pectus Excavatum

"A rare earth magnet encased in FDA-approved titanium will be implanted securely on the outer surface of the lower end of the sternum in patients with pectus excavatum. This is accomplished as an outpatient procedure, under brief general anesthesia.~A 2-inch transverse skinline incision is made at the junction of the sternum and xyphoid and the space in front and behind the sternum is dissected bluntly. The titanium can containing the magnet is securely fixed to the sternum by screwing it into a titanium fixation disk in front of the sternum. The procedure takes 1/2-hour, and the patient can go home the same day.~In another outpatient procedure, the Magnimplant is explanted 18 months after implantation."

"An external orthotic device Magnatract which includes an external magnet in a removable brace is fitted specifically to the patient's chest wall deformity. A calibrated meter in the external device measures the force applied between the two magnets. When the patient and family are comfortable with the device and comfort and skin condition have been assessed, the patient will be allowed to take the Magnatract home and begin the process of gradually advancing the sternum forward as the abnormal costal cartilage is reformed."

"* Subject has EKG performed to measure baseline cardiac activity.~* Magnimplant is implanted.~* After one week, Magnatract is fitted.~* Chest x-ray and 2nd EKG performed 30 days post-implantation.~* Patient and parents complete QoL questionnaire 30d post-implantation.~* Patient seen weekly for first month post-implantation to assess comfort and skin condition. Thereafter, will be seen monthly.~* At each monthly visit, patient will have lateral and anterior-posterior chest X-rays to monitor sternal correction.~* At each visit data logger is downloaded to measure strength of pull since last visit and amount of wear-time.~* Magnimplant explanted 18 months later as 1/2-hr outpatient procedure.~* CT scan and third EKG performed after explanation.~* Patient and parents complete QOL questionnaires after explantation and 1 yr post-explantation."