A national study of 327 patients published in the Journal of Pediatrics found that lung function declines as chest deformity deepens. The more severe the deformity, the more lung function was compromised, primarily due to lung restriction rather than airway obstruction.
A new device measures brain temperature non-invasively, allowing for more precise cooling therapies in infants and adults, with potential to reduce brain damage and death.
The Nuss procedure has achieved a high success rate of 95.8% in correcting pectus excavatum, with refinements in surgical techniques and instruments developed to increase effectiveness and safety. New tools include stronger bars, improved tunnel creation, and titanium options for patients with metal allergies.
Surgeons demonstrate a new minimally invasive technique to correct pectus carinatum, a condition causing the chest wall to protrude outward. The 'reverse Nuss' procedure involves passing a curved bar beneath the musculature to push out the indentation. A dynamic compression brace can also be used to correct the condition in many cases.
A study published in Pediatrics found that post-surgical pectus patients experience significant improvements in both emotional and physical well-being. Patients reported greater confidence, reduced irritability, and increased ability to exercise after correction of the chest wall deformity.
A new study suggests that childhood obesity begins as early as age two, with over half of children reaching the overweight category by this age. Researchers found that obese children started gaining weight in infancy at a rapid rate, highlighting the need for early interventions to prevent future obesity.
A study published in the Journal of Emotional Abuse highlights the overlooked emotional trauma suffered by brothers and sisters of child abuse victims. These siblings often become emotionally numb or hostile towards the abused child, requiring therapy but rarely receiving it.
A study by Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters found that dads break or fracture the bones of their children far more often than moms. The abuse can be horrific, with one case involving 31 broken or fractured bones.
A new device aimed at reducing deaths and brain damage from hypoxia in newborns will be developed with a $750,000 NIH grant. The device will measure the precise temperature of the brain, allowing doctors to maximize the benefits of therapeutic hypothermia.