A simple idea for approximating the volume of filler needed for chest-wall contour-defects

Summary Fillers can be used to correct contour‐defects. Due to the irregularities of defects, estimating the volume of filler required can be difficult. This frequently results in surgeons taking a step‐wise approach to filler‐injection, usually occurring over different appointments. Using a patient with pectus excavatum as an example, we provide a simple tip as to estimating the volume of filler required. In this case, normal saline was poured into the chest‐wall defect until the adequate level was reached (from the lateral aspect), while noting how much liquid was used. The patient then had a comparable volume of filler injected.