To analyze the characteristics, diagnostic points, differential diagnosis and surgical methods of saddle chest, and summarize the surgical treatment experience, so as to provide reference for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of saddle chest.

A retrospective analysis was performed on the patients with saddle chest who underwent surgery in the Department of Chest Wall Surgery of Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital from January 2022 to September 2023. The diagnosis and treatment data of the patients were collected, including age, gender, clinical symptoms, characteristics of thoracic deformity, imaging examination results, operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative hospital stay, and postoperative complications. Through the analysis of the above indicators, the deformity characteristics and surgical outcomes of saddle chest were discussed.

A total of 48 patients were enrolled, including 44 males and 4 females, aged from 5–35 (14.0±4.97) years. There were 45 cases and 3 cases of primary saddle chest and secondary saddle chest. Five patients complained of discomfort and 18 patients had abnormal electrocardiogram before the operation. All patients underwent surgical treatment successfully, and the correction effect was satisfactory. Among them, 38 cases were treated with Wenlin + Wung operation, 8 cases with Wenlin + Wang operation, and 2 cases with Wung operation. The operation time was 20–130 (52.50±23.97) min, the intraoperative blood loss was 1–100 (5.0±16.80) mL, and the postoperative hospital stay was 3–24 (6.0±11.90) days. Poor wound healing occurred in 4 patients, who were cured after debridement and suture.

Saddle chest is unique and should be differentiated from other thoracic deformities. After surgeons have a full understanding of saddle chest, through the use of appropriate surgical methods, they usually can achieve satisfactory results.