Minimally invasive surgery for pectus carinatum using the modified abramson technique at Viet Duc University Hospital: technique and mid-term result

Abstract

Objective: The modified Abramson technique for the treatment of congenital pectus carinatum has been performed at Viet Duc University Hospital since 2016. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the modified Abramson technique, common complications, and mid-term outcomes in patients with congenital pectus carinatum who underwent surgical treatment at Viet Duc University Hospital. Methods: A cross-sectional study combining retrospective and prospective analysis was conducted on all congenital pectus carinatum patients who underwent the modified Abramson procedure at Viet Duc Hospital from January 2020 to September 2024. Results: A total of 174 patients met the inclusion criteria, with a mean age of 13.6 ± 1.98 years. All surgeries followed a standardized protocol, with a mean operative time of 33.6 ± 7.7 minutes. No intraoperative complications occurred, and the average hospital stay was 5.2 ± 0.6 days. Early complications included pneumothorax in 6.3% of cases. With a mean postoperative follow-up of 26 months, the overall complication rate was 13.2%, wire breakage (9.8%) and infection (4%). Eight patients (4.6%) are reoperation for complication management, and early bar removal was  in 2.3% of cases. A total of 104 out of 174 patients underwent bar removal, the mean duration of bar retention was 18.3 ± 5.5months, with 92.3% achieving excellent or good outcomes and 7.7% reporting fair results. Conclusion: The modified Abramson technique for treating congenital pectus carinatum demonstrates favorable outcomes, a low complication rate, and high patient satisfaction.