Surgical plate fixes sunken chest in 6 cats and 1 dog with few

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To describe a modified surgical technique for treating pectus excavatum (PE) in small animals and report the outcomes by evaluating preoperative and postoperative lung and total chest volumes, as well as complications and short-term outcomes. METHODS: Owned pets between 8 and 20 weeks of age with PE were enrolled in the study between February 28, 2024, and September 26, 2025. Preoperative evaluation included thoracic radiographs, baseline blood work, and whole-body CT scans. A noncontoured bone plate was secured along the entire length of the sternum with multiple cerclage wires. Animals had physical examinations and imaging performed at 2 and 8 weeks postoperatively, and again when they were between 8 and 12 months of age. RESULTS: This study included 6 cats and 1 dog, all of which recovered successfully from surgery. Lung and chest volumes improved immediately after surgery. Pectus excavatum was corrected in all animals. At the final recheck, 2 cats had reduced lung volume compared to immediately after surgery along with new pulmonary pathology; however, the total chest volume increased in these cats. Complications observed in this study included pneumothorax in 1 cat, fracture of the eighth sternebrae in 1 cat, and cerclage wire breakage in another cat, which had no clinical impact. CONCLUSIONS: The use of internal plate and cerclage wires to correct PE was a simple, well-tolerated technique that improved lung and chest volumes and had minimal complications. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Internal plating could be used for correction of PE in young cats and dogs.