Yesterday, CBS Health Watch reported that magnets were used in an experimental procedure for a birth defect, called pectus excavatum, or "sunken chest". This is when the sternum and cartilage concaves inward where the ribs are attached. This visible deformity puts pressure on the heart and lungs, limiting their capacity to fully function.

Dr. Michael Harrison, of UCSF Medical Center, surgically attached a magnet to the chest bone of a young boy, named Jacob. Afterward, Jacob was given a special brace to wear over his chest that contains another strong magnet - much like the Marvel comic book hero, Iron Man.

Over time, the combined magnetic force has slowly been pulling Jacob's chest bone forward, away from his heart and lungs. Two years later, his sternum has moved about 1" forward to a more normal position. He has greater lung capacity, and can breathe easier.

While this condition is considered rare, the implications of the procedure’s initial success are important. The surgery currently used to correct pectus excavatum involves weeks of painful recovery and a large scar across the chest. I know this from personal experience…

I had surgery for pectus excavatum about 10 years ago. I remember waking up in the hospital with bandages and tubes in my chest. How much it hurt just to breathe, and how laughing at a joke would ironically lead to painful tears. A week later, I could barely sit up or raise my arms as I was helped home from the hospital.

Today, I still have an area over my chest where there is no sense of touch, and the scar runs about 8" across. If such a major surgical procedure can be replaced with the use of magnets, the physical, emotional, and fiscal advantages will be great. No risk from major surgery, no severe pain, no potential nerve damage or long-term swelling, a smaller hospital bill, no large scars, and no self-consciousness when taking off your shirt at the beach.

Based on the article, my guess is using magnets to correct a sunken chest could take anywhere from 2-4 years of wearing the Iron Man-like chest brace. Comparable to wearing orthodontic braces for teeth. And interestingly, the concept for this procedure comes from dentistry.

For several years now, oral surgeons have been using and experimenting with magnets. They’ve used them to help prevent loss of bone mass, reduce risk of plaque and gingivitis, and most notably, move badly positioned teeth.

Similar to the pectus excavatum magnet, doctors have surgically attached a tiny magnet to an unerupted tooth, and another magnet in an opposing position to the tooth.  As an example, imagine a wisdom tooth on the bottom of the mouth has not grown outward from the jaw and gums. It’s too deep to be surgically removed. In this case, doctors will attach a magnet to the wisdom tooth, and another magnet near the top of the mouth, opposite of where the tooth is. Over time, usually 6-12 months, the force of the magnets slowly pulls the tooth upwards to a position where it can be safely extracted.

I often believe that sometimes, the simplest solution is the best solution. This is another great example of how doctors have been experimenting with the use of magnets to simplify procedures, reduce patient risk, and improve results. Using a magnet may be a more gradual process, but compared to the risks, recovery, and costs involved in surgery, the advantages are many.

Original article: http://cbs5.com/health/magnet.therapy.defect.2.1618597.html