My Son Has A Bone That Sticks Out Where His Sternum Is

[summerrluvv]

Its like right in the middle of his chest I guess right where his stenum is or a little above/below it. Anyone else's kid have this? I asked the doctor because I actually just noticed it a few months ago. He said that some kids are just like that and he's not deformed or anything (his words exactly).

 

[Pop Daddy]

lol, if the doctor said it was ok I wouldnt worry about it

 

[JerseyJanice]

Are you and your doctor sure that it's a bone?

 

[buckylarue]

I have that myself; it actually is the sternum. In some people, it curves more outward instead of inward, and sticks up like that. It's never caused me any problems, other than a little self-consiousness about it when I was growing up.

 

[summerrluvv]

Are you and your doctor sure that it's a bone?

Well it feels like a bone, it's pretty pointy too. Thinking about it now, my dad has the same thing and my grandfather that passed away had it too. Maybe it's a hereditary thing.

 

[summerrluvv]

I have that myself; it actually is the sternum. In some people, it curves more outward instead of inward, and sticks up like that. It's never caused me any problems, other than a little self-consiousness about it when I was growing up.

Thanks! The dr. didn't really give a medical explanation for it so I was wondering.

Pop Daddy: A doctor also told me not to worry when my son didn't talk when he was two, so I don't always value their opinions

 

[herc]

I think you may be refering to the xyphoid process. It is not that uncommon for them to stick out a bit.

xiphoid process
n.
The cartilage at the lower end of the sternum. Also called ensiform cartilage, ensiform process, xiphisternum, xiphoid cartilage.

 

[austinsmommy]

My 3 yr old son has this also and our doctor says its normal and not to worry about it.

 

[mermaidlady]

Officially it's called a pectus evacutum(sp) both my boys have it. Usually no problem unless it is very deep

 

[marybet]

My son has it too. He is 35 and has never had a problem with it.

 

[disneyworld!]

i think you may be refering to the xyphoid process. It is not that incommon for them to stick out a bit.

xiphoid process
n.
The cartilage at the lower end of the sternum. Also called ensiform cartilage, ensiform process, xiphisternum, xiphoid cartilage.

this is correct! being the sternum has techinally 3 parts to it. It is a bumpy bones to the touch
http://www.getbodysmart.com/ap/skeletalsystem/skeleton/axial/ribssternum/sternum/animation.html

 

[becjlek]

My son has it too.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

My son too.

 

[DawnCt1]

DS 23 has it. It became quite prominent when he was 13 to the point where his peers noticed it. The doc told him that when he developed his chest muscles, it wouldn't be noticable. DS then began working out in his room with light weights and then progressed. As a result of this "deformity", he got into weight lifting. He is graduating this year with a degree in engineering but works part time in a bar as a bouncer. That's not a job he would have been offered if it wasn't for his sternum. BTW, the doc was right. It's not even noticable anymore.

 

[sweet angel]

DS 23 has it. It became quite prominent when he was 13 to the point where his peers noticed it. The doc told him that when he developed his chest muscles, it wouldn't be noticable. DS then began working out in his room with light weights and then progressed. As a result of this "deformity", he got into weight lifting. He is graduating this year with a degree in engineering but works part time in a bar as a bouncer. That's not a job he would have been offered if it wasn't for his sternum. BTW, the doc was right. It's not even noticable anymore.

My DS14 has it as well and is VERY VERY self-conscious of it. We also told him to start lifting so he could develop his chest muscles. He'll feel better to know that he's not the only one, since he's also flat footed and a sometimes toe-walker.

 

[summerrluvv]

My DS14 has it as well and is VERY VERY self-conscious of it. We also told him to start lifting so he could develop his chest muscles. He'll feel better to know that he's not the only one, since he's also flat footed and a sometimes toe-walker.

My son is flat footed and a somtimes toe-walker too!!

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

deleted

 

[Cruellasmom]

We discovered my daughter had this too, she called it her "poke out bone". This started to develop when she was about 10 and it just kept getting bigger and she was really teased in her ballet class. We took her to all sorts of doctors, each one giving us a different diagnosis. We finally took her to a children's hospital and found out it was a pectus carinatum, which means she had a mass of cartilege forcing her breast bone to protrude out of her chest. Not only was it very unattractive for a little girl, but it was causing her chest pain and shortness of breath. She underwent surgery to have it removed. They broke her sternum and cleaned out all of the cartilege. It was a 3 hour surgery and she spent 6 days in the hospital. The good news is she is now a very normal and active 12 year old and they surgery was the best thing that could have happened. She has a very thin white 7 inch scar, that goes horizontally right under her breast bone. It's in a spot that hopefully no one will see!

 

[DawnCt1]

We discovered my daughter had this too, she called it her "poke out bone". This started to develop when she was about 10 and it just kept getting bigger and she was really teased in her ballet class. We took her to all sorts of doctors, each one giving us a different diagnosis. We finally took her to a children's hospital and found out it was a pectus carinatum, which means she had a mass of cartilege forcing her breast bone to protrude out of her chest. Not only was it very unattractive for a little girl, but it was causing her chest pain and shortness of breath. She underwent surgery to have it removed. They broke her sternum and cleaned out all of the cartilege. It was a 3 hour surgery and she spent 6 days in the hospital. The good news is she is now a very normal and active 12 year old and they surgery was the best thing that could have happened. She has a very thin white 7 inch scar, that goes horizontally right under her breast bone. It's in a spot that hopefully no one will see!

I actually had an employee who had something similar except it didn't present itself until adulthood. He was in a car accident, relatively minor, and his chest struck the steering wheel. Within 6 months he began to experience an overgrowth of the sternum and unfortunately most of it was growing on the underside creating similar problems to your DD. He too had surgery.

 

[minkydog]

There are several different deformities of the sternum, but the most common two are Pectus Carinatum (thebreastbone points outward) and Pectus Excavatum(the breastbone caves in.) It can be hereditary and it's not unusual to have other family members who have teh same traits. Generally speaking, the one that points out is not a health problem at all,simply a cosmetic issue. The Pectus Excavatum, in most affected people is also generally shallow and not much of an issue, except for the way it looks. In a small number of people, mainly boys, the pectus excavatum will progress to the point of needing surgery if the lungs or heart is compromised.

We have several men in the family who have Pectus excavatum--my dad, my two sons, and one nephew. The only one who has needed repair was my oldest son, John. His pectus was extremely deep, as deep as an adult fist, causing partial collapse of his lung and a heart murmur from the sternum rubbing on the heart. His chest Xray looked like he had a large pancake in his rib cage, his heart was smashed so flat.

We had his pectus repaired at Miami Children's hospital when he was 5yo and he did beautifully. Of course, it will always look different. He has a 6-7 inch horizontal scar on his chest and his chest looks puny due to the ribs being misshapen. The pressure of the deformity caused his heart to twist almost backwards--it's under his left arm now, rather than to the left of his sternum. But he is healthy as a horse.

I wouldn't put my other son through this for his much milder pectus. This was major-major surgery, and very painful, like having a bypass. But I'm glad we did it for John before he developed other problems.