Reviewed by Dr. Bin Cai

Dr. Cai focuses on complex chest wall deformities and infections. He tailors surgical techniques, incision design, and postoperative care to each patient, aiming for optimal correction and infection control.

Is a flattened chest a normal variation in body type or a medical deformity?

The answer depends on the structure of the chest wall and the underlying cause. A mild flat chest may be a natural variation, whereas a prominent flat chest deformity—also referred to as Platythorax—is a chest wall deformity that can affect breathing, posture, and self-confidence.

Identifying whether flat-chested children or adults have a normal chest shape or a chest wall deformity is important for both physical health and emotional well-being.

Flat Chest Deformity (Platythorax)

The medical term for a flat chest deformity is Platythorax. It is a chest wall deformity that happens when the anteroposterior diameter of the chest (front-to-back width) is much less than its normal width and the normal curvature of the anterior chest wall is lost, resulting in a flattened appearance of the thorax.

Structural Features

In individuals who have a Platythorax chest, the thoracic cage appears flattened, with the anteroposterior diameter often less than half of the transverse diameter, and the ribs showing an increased inclination. This can result in the lungs having a bit less space to expand, which can contribute to slight breathlessness or tiredness with exercise. The shoulder blades tend to feel more prominent, and the stance tends to slouch forward naturally to make up for decreased chest space.

Causes

The specific causes of a flat chest remain unclear and may be either congenital or acquired.

• Genetic factors

• Malnutrition

• Chest trauma

• Chronic wasting diseases (e.g., tuberculosis or cancer)

• Pulmonary diseases

• Breast diseases

Diagnostic Examinations

The diagnosis of flat chest deformity primarily relies on physical examination to observe the appearance of the chest wall, supplemented by imaging studies such as X-rays and chest CT scans. (It’s also important to consider the possibility of pulmonary tuberculosis.)

What Are the Main Symptoms and Impacts of Flat Chest?

1. Appearance Impact

For most patients, particularly youth and young people, flat chest deformity typically causes an abnormally flat appearance of the anterior chest, a slender neck, prominent clavicles, and noticeable depressions above and below the collarbones.

These visible physical differences may lead them to avoid activities like swimming, wearing fitted clothing, or engaging in certain social interactions.

2. Potential Accompanying Symptoms

While mild flat chest deformity may not necessarily result in medical issues, more severe forms can be associated with:

• If the chest is excessively flat, it may compress the heart and lungs, causing accompanying symptoms such as chest tightness, shortness of breath, and palpitations.

• Additionally, patients with flat chests often experience spontaneous pneumothorax.

3. Psychological Level

The psychological impact of flat chest deformity cannot be underestimated. Many patients suffer not only because of physical symptoms but also due to long-term body image issues.

In adolescents, the flattened chest appearance usually leads to anxiety, social withdrawal, or depression.

Therefore, in addition to treating the underlying diseases, parents or individuals might also consult doctors to determine whether surgical correction for the chest wall deformity is suitable for their specific case.

At ICWS, our multidisciplinary team provides comprehensive evaluations and personalized surgical plans for various types of chest wall deformity, helping patients improve function while restoring a natural chest appearance.

How Is Flat Chest Deformity Treated?

Treatment for flat chest deformity generally focuses on addressing the underlying primary disease, although surgical correction of the deformity can also be considered.

(1) Treatment of the primary disease involves general care and medication.

1. General care: This includes infection prevention, fluid therapy, symptomatic and etiological treatment. Patients with severe malnutrition may require appropriate nutritional support.

2. Medication: If the flat chest is caused by inflammation or other diseases, specific medications should be taken under a doctor's guidance.

(2) Surgical correction

For patients primarily seeking cosmetic improvement or those with more severe structural issues, chest wall surgical correction is an effective option.

At ICWS, we utilize the innovative Wung Procedure, a technique specifically designed to correct chest wall deformities, such as the flat chest.

before surgery after surgery

The Wung Procedure is a minimally invasive technique developed as an improvement on the classic Nuss procedure. It aims to overcome some of the limitations and risks of traditional surgery by incorporating unique surgical techniques to achieve safer, simpler placement and fixation of the bars.

Compared with the classic Nuss procedure, the Wung Procedure offers advantages such as improved surgical outcomes, enhanced safety,greater patient comfort, and a faster recovery.

Further reading: The differences between the Wung procedure and the Nuss procedure

Reaching Out to ICWS for Diagnosis and Treatment

ICWS is the world’s first independent chest wall disorder surgical treatment institution, and the world's largest chest wall deformity correction center.

If you or a family member is concerned about flat chest deformity or if you're interested in exploring surgical correction options, we warmly invite you to contact us. We are happy to answer your questions and provide professional evaluations, personalized treatment plans, and comprehensive care support.