A dissolving scaffold may help camouflage a sunken chest
NCT ID NCT05634070
First seen Jul 30, 2026 · Last updated Jul 31, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This trial tests whether a custom-made, absorbable polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffold, combined with the patient's own fat, can safely improve the appearance of pectus excavatum (a sunken chest) in people who cannot have standard corrective surgery. The scaffold is designed to support new tissue growth and then dissolve over time, potentially avoiding long-term implant complications. The study will monitor safety, fat retention, pain, wound healing, and quality of life in 10 participants over about one year.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- a custom-made absorbable polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffold implanted under the skin, combined with the patient's own fat grafting
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this approach could offer a less invasive, absorbable option to improve chest appearance in people with pectus excavatum who are not candidates for conventional surgery.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very small early-stage trial with only 10 participants, so results may not apply widely. Risks include infection, poor fat retention, scaffold displacement, or the need for additional procedures.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Meyer Children's Univeristy Hospital
Florence, Italy, 50139, Italy
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