Chest Wall Deformities Beyond the Chest Wall

Primary outcomes

• Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) [Baseline]: Forced vital capacity (FVC) was assessed using spirometry and expressed as a percentage of the predicted value.
• Forced Expiratory Volume in One Second (FEV1) [Baseline]: Forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) was assessed using spirometry and expressed as a percentage of the predicted value.
• FEV1/FVC Ratio [Baseline]: The FEV1/FVC ratio was assessed using spirometry and expressed as a percentage of the predicted value.
• Maximal Voluntary Ventilation (MVV) [Baseline]: Maximal voluntary ventilation (MVV) was assessed using spirometry and expressed as a percentage of the predicted value.

Secondary outcomes

• Respiratory Muscle Strength [Baseline]: Respiratory muscle strength was assessed by measuring maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) and maximal expiratory pressure (MEP) using a portable electronic mouth pressure device.
• Physical Activity Level [Baseline]: Physical activity level was assessed using the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children (PAQ-C). Scores range from 1 to 5, with higher scores indicating higher levels of physical activity.
• Aerobic Capacity [Baseline]: Aerobic capacity was assessed using the modified Chester Step Test
• Body Composition [Baseline]: Body composition was assessed using triceps and subscapular skinfold measurements
• Handgrip Strength [Baseline]: Handgrip strength was assessed using a handgrip dynamometer.
• Neck and Trunk Muscle Strength [Baseline]: Neck and trunk muscle strength was assessed using a hand-held dynamometer.
• Muscle Endurance - Sit-Up Test [Baseline]: Muscle endurance was assessed using sit-up test
• Muscle Endurance - Trunk Lift Test [Baseline]: Muscle endurance was assessed using trunk lift test.
• Muscle Endurance - Push-Up Test [Baseline]: Muscle endurance was assessed using push-up test.
• Flexibility [Baseline]: Lower back and hamstring flexibility was assessed using the Sit-and-Reach Test.
• Posture [Baseline]: Posture was assessed using lateral photographic postural analysis
• Health-Related Quality of Life Assessed by the Nuss Questionnaire [Baseline]: Health-related quality of life was assessed using the Turkish version of the Nuss Questionnaire

Sex: All, ages: 10 Years to 18 Years, accepts healthy volunteers

Inclusion Criteria:

* Individuals aged 10-18 years with pectus excavatum
* Individuals aged 10-18 years with pectus carinatum
* Healthy volunteers aged 10-18 years

Exclusion Criteria:

* Previous conservative or surgical treatment for pectus excavatum
* Major surgery within the previous 6 months
* Congenital or acquired cardiac disease
* Congenital or acquired pulmonary disease
* Neuromuscular or orthopedic disease
* Connective tissue disorders (Marfan syndrome, Turner syndrome, neurofibromatosis, or tuberous sclerosis)
* Diagnosed psychological or cognitive problems
* Obesity or severe underweight (BMI below the 5th percentile or above the 95th percentile)
* Hearing or visual impairment not corrected with hearing aids or glasses
* Acute infection, including an acute respiratory tract infection within the previous 2 weeks

• Emine H Tüzün, PhD, Principal investigator, Eastern Mediterranean University