As a first principle, surgery and a prolonged recovery is to be avoided whenever possible, especially with children.

While it may not be possible in every case, the majority of patients present a protrusion that can be treated unobtrusively and in reasonable comfort.

Besides moderate cases, asymmetries and complications have also been treated successfully with the Braceworks Pectus Brace.

Get a diagnosis from your doctor and discuss alternative treatment — including The Braceworks Pectus Brace.

We invite your doctor to consult with physicians that are familiar with the Calgary Protocol.

The Calgary Protocol for Bracing of Pectus Carinatum: A Preliminary Report, (Dragan Kravarusic, Bryan J. Dicken, Richard Dewar, James Harder, Philippe Poncet, Marc Schneider and David L. Sigalet). Findings were presented at the 37th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Association of Paediatric Surgeons, Quebec Canada, September 2005 and published in the Journal of Pediatric Surgery, Volume 41, Issue 5, May 2006, Pages 923-926.

The Calgary Protocol grew out of our experience in treating individual patients. The clinical team takes a hands on approach and, over the years, we've developed an understanding of the patterns of chest wall behaviour from treating hundreds of patients. If your Physician has determined you may be a good candidate for bracing, positive results can come quickly.

Young patients typically wear their brace diligently once they see early evidence of effectiveness and continue through the correction and maintenance with reasonable comfort.

When used under qualified medical supervision according to the Calgary Protocol, the Braceworks Pectus Brace is a key component of successfully treating Pectus Carinatum non-surgically.

"Compressive bracing results in a significant subjective and objective improvement in PC appearance in skeletally immature patients. However, patient compliance and diligent follow up appear to be paramount for the success of this method of treatment. Further studies are required to show the durability of this method of treatment."
- conclusions of The Calgary Protocol for Bracing of Pectus Carinatum

The Pectus Brace works in much the same way as orthodontic braces work to correct the alignment of teeth—slight pressure and adjustment over an extended period of time.

Braceworks' comfortable, lightweight, low-profile, dynamic Pectus Brace has evolved through more than a dozen prototypes. Current versions permit the wearer to adjust the brace throughout the corrective and maintenance phases of treatment. Working closely with the Calgary Protocol Team, Marc ensures patients' comfort. Improved brace performance boosts patient adoption and compliance. Braceworks supplies the Pectus Brace internationally. Contact us for details.

Our objective is for individual patients to enjoy effective results through improved techniques and hardware. We support The Calgary Protocol with product development that keeps pace with insight born of treatment.

Treatment methods are supported by a rigorous laboratory program where we're quantifying brace performance and chest wall behaviour.

Naturally, we continue to rely on patient experience for guidance and will start testing an instrumented brace for field measurement soon. We're building a better model of how physical activity contributes to therapeutic effort.

"In children up to age 18 who have mild to moderate pectus carinatum and are motivated to avoid surgery, the use of a custom-fitted chest-wall brace pushing directly on the sternum produces excellent outcomes. Willingness to wear the brace as required is essential for the success of this treatment approach.

This device is easily concealed under clothing and must be worn from 14 to 23 hours a day, (depending on stage of correction and the treatment protocol employed) until treated or full height is reached. [The Calgary Protocol has patients wearing their brace 23 hrs. per day in the correction phase with reduced wearing time in the maintenance phase. -ed.]

Children are taught to adjust the brace to maintain the pressure applied to their chest, as the protrusion subsides. Parents learn how to check to see if adequate pressure is being applied. Pediatric surgeons monitor progress at office visits."

"Many thoracic surgeons have chosen the Braceworks Pectus Brace as their preferred alternative to surgery. Increased popularity and acceptance of The Calgary Protocol in both clinics and at home is especially reassuring because young patients are comfortable with the experience." Wikipedia