It’s entirely normal for the spines of healthy individuals to curve; however, such undulations are generally located around the shoulder area, presenting the appearance of the upper back rounding outwards and the lower back curving inwards.

When curves present themselves in a side-to-side fashion giving the appearance of a letter ‘S’ or ‘C’, a condition known as scoliosis or curvature of the spine is diagnosed. The condition is generally the result of a vertebral abnormality that the sufferer was born with. However, the condition can be a secondary symptom of other medical conditions including muscular atrophy and cerebral palsy, and onset may consequently occur later in life.

Procedure information
Since a ‘rib hump’ is common to most scoliosis sufferers, the procedure known as thoracoplasty involves the surgical shortening of the rib deformation. Generally, surgeons remove between four and six adjacently situated sections of affected rib, with each section about two to five centimeters in length.

There is no removal of entire ribs involved, only sections and these sections eventually grow back minus the protruding effect that the original pieces, since removed, were affected with.

Recovery time
Patients are usually expected to stay in hospital for between 5 and 7 days, depending on the complexity of the operation and their progress following it. Once home, the usual length of the recovery period is between 6 weeks and 3 months, during which time patients are advised to avoid exercise or activity involving upper body movements.

Patients may initially be required to wear a brace so as to prevent their lungs from rubbing against their chest cavity. This appliance is not normally required beyond a 2-week period following the procedure.