Guide to Your Pectus Carinatum Orthosis

Key Points

Pink marks on your skin are normal. 

They should fade within an hour after taking your brace off.

Follow-up visits are important. 

They ensure your brace is comfortable and working the way it should, with the right pressure to correct your pectus carinatum. 

A pectus carinatum orthosis is a brace a patient wears to help correct a chest-wall deformity. Treating a pectus carinatum with a brace can take anywhere from 18 months to 2 years. Wearing the brace might be new to you and your family. Follow these guidelines to help you get used to wearing your brace.

Follow-up appointments are extremely important to make sure your brace fits well as you grow and as your pectus carinatum corrects.

During the follow-up appointments, we may change the corrective pressure, exchange pads, or reshape the brace. For the best results, your brace needs to fit the best it can at all times. You’ll need these appointments in this order:
 

1. First appointment: Evaluation and molding for your brace. Generally, this lasts 1.5 hours.
2. About 3-4 weeks later: Fitting of your brace. This appointment is scheduled for 2 hours.
3. About 4 weeks later: First follow-up appointment*
4. First three to six months: Follow-up appointments once a month*
5. After that, until treatment ends: Follow-up appointments every four months.*

*All follow-up appointments are scheduled for 1.5 hours. Sometimes they last closer to 1 hour.

If, at any time, your brace needs repair or doesn’t seem to fit right, don’t wait until your next scheduled follow-up appointment. Instead, contact the Gillette Children’s Orthotics department as soon as possible to schedule an appointment.

You must wear a T-shirt under your pectus carinatum brace at all times to protect your skin. 

• Stay dry. Sweat under the brace can cause skin breakdown, infections, and body odor. If you’re sweaty, change the shirt during the day to keep your skin dry.
• Don’t use lotions or creams under the brace. These products soften your skin and may lead to blisters or skin irritations. If you have open sores or blisters, notify your orthotist as soon as possible.

If a red or pink mark stays on your skin longer than 30 to 60 minutes, there might be too much 
pressure. You could reduce the tightness by one or two clicks on each side. 

Clean your brace at least once a week (or more). Use rubbing alcohol or witch hazel to wipe down the pads and panel. Wait until your brace is completely dry before putting it back on. 

Getting used to your brace takes about 1-2 weeks. For most patients, this means wearing the brace for 23 hours a day. It’s OK to reduce tightness by one or two clicks on each side if it helps you build up to full-time wear. 

Day 1

Start with a comfortable setting. It is important to wear your new brace and not take it off. Instead, if needed, loosen the lateral (side) straps by one or two clicks. If you notice red marks that don’t fade away after 30-60 minutes, please contact your orthotist. 

Don't wear your brace to bed on day 1. 

Days 2 through 6

You should start wearing your brace at night. If you can’t wear your brace all night, don’t worry—just try again the next night. 

Check your skin routinely for red marks. Remember: you should see a pink blush where the brace is pushing. If your skin looks good, keep wearing your brace. 

Days 7 through 14

You should now be able to wear your brace full-time, or 23 hours a day. 

If you play sports or participate in other activities (such as swimming), remove your brace for the activity and put it back on  afterwards.
 

Call your Orthotist as soon as possible if: 

• Your brace needs repair.
• Red marks don't disappear within 60 minutes after you remove your brace.
• You have open sores or blisters.
• Your brace just doesn't seem to fit right.

If necessary, we can arrange to have you come in for a brace adjustment.