Various deformities of the chest not only negatively affect a person's aesthetic appearance but can also lead to functional disorders of the respiratory, cardiovascular, and digestive systems. Specialists at Top Ihilov Clinic, who have mastered advanced techniques for combating this group of pathologies, are capable of providing patients with the most effective medical assistance. An individual comprehensive therapy program is developed for each patient, with surgical intervention being a key component. The operating doctors have many years of experience in treating pathologies such as funnel chest – reviews of the procedures performed in Israel indicate their high effectiveness and safety.
The level of technical equipment and quality of service at Top Ihilov Clinic meet all international standards, so foreign patients can expect to receive qualified assistance even in complex clinical cases. For Israeli specialists, there are no incurable diseases – thanks to the use of a multidisciplinary approach and innovative therapy methods, they successfully correct any chest deformities.
Treatment Methods for Funnel Chest in Israel
Funnel chest is classified as a congenital pathology of the musculoskeletal system, with males being more susceptible to its development. This defect is also referred to in medical practice as "pectus excavatum." The abnormal development of the ribs leads to the formation of a characteristic funnel in the sternum area, the depth of which can increase as the child grows, negatively impacting the spine, lungs, heart, and other internal organs.
The doctors at Top Ihilov Clinic have accumulated invaluable experience in the therapy of funnel chest, successfully performing its correction not only in childhood and adolescence when the body is most amenable to treatment. If an adult patient presents with such a defect, Israeli specialists can also offer effective measures to correct the sunken chest, particularly through palliative surgical interventions. The following methods are used in the comprehensive treatment of funnel chest:
- Conservative Therapy. Most effective in childhood and adolescence but does not always completely correct the defect, so it is often performed in combination with surgical intervention. The clinic employs experienced physical therapy instructors, masseurs, physiotherapists, and rehabilitation specialists who develop individual exercise programs for patients, which help slow the progression of the pathology, strengthen muscles, and prevent the development of spinal deformities. Special breathing exercises are conducted to increase lung capacity and prevent respiratory disorders. Additionally, wearing orthopedic corsets and braces may be recommended, but they are only effective for minimal deformities and at a young age.
- Surgical Treatment. Israeli specialists use various surgical techniques to correct chest defects. One of the most effective and safe procedures for patients is the Nuss procedure. Special steel plates are implanted into the chest, which help the bones form correctly. Once optimal results are achieved, after 3-4 years, the plates are removed, minimizing the risks of reverse deformation. An alternative to the Nuss procedure is the implantation of steel rods – this intervention is even less traumatic, as it is performed minimally invasively through small incisions on the sides of the chest.
- Defects can also be corrected using sternochondroplasty. During this operation, the surgeon separates the chest muscles from the sternum, then performs resection of the curved costal cartilages and installs a straightening metal plate. Since sternochondroplasty is quite a substantial and traumatic intervention, it is recommended only for significant chest deformities.
Diagnosis of Funnel Chest in Israel
One of the main conditions for successful treatment is a well-conducted diagnosis. Top Ihilov Clinic is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment for a wide range of studies, so the entire diagnostic process takes patients no more than 3-4 days.
Among medical tourists, video consultation services are becoming increasingly popular. Its advantages include the ability to undergo all necessary examinations in one's home country, send the results via email to a leading Israeli specialist, who can then provide an expert opinion remotely. A Skype video consultation will not only help determine the exact diagnosis but also provide information on further treatment options, as well as save time and financial resources required for travel to the country.
First Day. Consultation with the Attending Physician
The doctor conducts a physical examination, reviews the results of previous studies, and organizes the medical history data. After that, a list of additional diagnostic procedures is determined.
Second Day. Examination
The diagnosis of funnel chest deformity includes the following studies:
- X-ray.
- Computed Tomography.
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging.
- Electrocardiography.
- Echocardiography.
- Spirography.
- Comprehensive blood tests.
- Spirometry and others.
Third Day. Treatment Assignment
A medical council is convened within the clinic, consisting of leading orthopedists, surgeons, and other specialists. They discuss the diagnostic results, establish a final diagnosis, and determine a comprehensive therapeutic plan.
Funnel Chest: In Israel, Treatment Prices Fully Correspond to Its Quality
Many medical tourists have already confirmed that receiving treatment in Israeli clinics is much more cost-effective than in the USA or Germany. When it comes to a condition like funnel chest, in Israel, the cost of therapy is determined individually for each patient based on the results of comprehensive diagnostics. On average, patients manage to save between 20% to 45% compared to the prices set for similar services in Western Europe and the United States.
Advantages of Treatment at Top Ihilov Clinic
- Highly qualified doctors, many of whom are world-class experts.
- Fast and accurate diagnostics conducted using state-of-the-art medical equipment.
- Effective and safe therapy methods – Israeli specialists primarily perform minimally invasive interventions, excluding the development of serious postoperative complications.
- Service costs are approximately 20-45% lower than in other countries with a similar level of medical care.
- Maximum comfort for foreign patients – this applies not only to living conditions but also to the absence of a language barrier, as everyone can use the services of a personal curator-translator.