This prospective cohort is the largest of its kind involving 240 pediatric patients enrolled over eight years and followed for a median of 80 weeks. Patients were screened with a 15-minute in-clinic test requiring at least 5 mm of sternal lift before enrolment.
Funnel depth dropped from 21.1 mm to 7.7 mm (P < .001). Complete correction occurred in 31 percent of patient, and overall improvement was observed in 67.5 percent, with the highest rates (86 percent) seen in the severe group. Breathing difficulty scores fell significantly, although chest pain scores did not change. Patient satisfaction increased from 3.81 to 7.94 out of 10. Adherence rather than age or treatment duration predicted the outcome; each additional hour worn per day predicted a 1.7 mm reduction in depth (P = .027). Complications were mostly mild skin issues (19 percent), with no serious events reported.
The study offers a defined entry test and a practical finding: Adherence is the modifiable factor upon which clinics should focus.
