Ds16 uneven rib cage.

[PenguinIce]

Noticed recently that my ds’s rib cage is uneven, the left side sticks out further than the right. Is this normal? He says it doesn’t hurt and ‘not to fuss’ but think I should book an appointment with the GP. Anyone had anything like this before?

It’s normal, because your heart is on the left side.

The heart does not normally affect the shape of the ribcage.

How uneven is it? Is it noticeable or slightly asymmetric. Photos are useful for questions like this.

At the back or at the front?

You need to get proper medical advice. Teens are always sensitive about their bodies but you should book an appointment and take him and explain your concerns. (Easier said than done..I know).

It’s noticeable when looking at it front on and even more noticeable side on. Sorry photos are difficult as don’t want to make him self conscious by asking about it too much. Approx a cm in difference from one side to the other.

Get it checked. My son has the same and it was a vitamin D deficiency which caused deformation of the ribs. He's still on high dose vitamin D and although it's still there it's not as obvious as when he first had it.

My DD same age also had this. She does have a slight deformity of her ribcage and separately mild scoliosis.

There's other checks you can do to see if it's related to his spine alignment, such as placing your hands on his shoulders and see if they're the same height. Also get him to bend over and if you look down his spine from behind you can see how even it looks. The GP also does the same checks when looking for scoliosis.

She was checked by the GP and referred to spinal clinic for an x-ray. It was mild enough not to need any treatment. Just monitoring.

He is quite slim and has shot up really fast (ended up with a few stretch marks on his back).

My ribcage protrudes quite significantly on my left side. I have Poland's syndrome and that's the cause so could it perhaps be that OP?

Thanks everyone, will give the GP a call in the morning.

My sons is the same. He also has a lump of bone or something on the front.

His shoulders are uneven too.

He doesn't have scoliosis which can be a cause but has a muscular condition which means uneven tone on left and right.

So I would say sinister causes need ruling out - but that doesn't mean it's cause for concern iyswim?

Well I never! The left hand side of my ribcage has always been bigger but I've never really thought anything of it - just assumed it was one of those things (I'm 40). Then a couple of weeks ago, I had full blood tests done and low and behold, I am deficient in Vit D!!!