Pediatric Orthopaedics: On Wednesday, November 1, at 6:30pm EST, Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital will host a live webcast presentation to demonstrate the implantation of a vertical expandable prosthetic titanium rib in a pediatric patient.

The VEPTR™ is placed in the chest to treat children who have Thoracic Insufficiency Syndrome. TIS occurs in young children with fused ribs and chest wall malformations often associated with scoliosis. These deformities can restrict lung growth in young patients, complicate breathing, or even lead to early death. The VEPTR™ is designed to mechanically stabilize and distract the thorax to improve respiration. This is done through an opening wedge thoracostomy of the chest.