Straight Spine Syndrome's Overlooked Cardiac Risk: Why These Patients Need a Cardiology Referral Too

In this August 4, 2026 Refining Room recap, Dr. Jason Miller, joined by Dr. Jason Haas and the CBP Mastermind team, explains the cardiac comorbidity risk in straight spine syndrome and pectus excavatum and why it matters for CBP doctors in practice.

In this episode

• Why straight spine syndrome carries a cardiac risk that's easy to overlook without a visible deformity

• The difference between measuring pectus excavatum with the Haller index and straight spine syndrome with the Davies and D'Lion criteria

•Common cardiac comorbidities linked to both conditions, including mitral valve prolapse and bicuspid aortic valve

• How to position the scoli roll on the rib, not the vertebra, for better force transfer into the curve

• When to angle a bungee strap based on whether the cervicothoracic curve starts above or below T3

• Practical denerole sizing adjustments to protect the sacral base angle in a growing adolescent patient

Watch the full Refining Room session in Video Gallery 2.0 for the complete demonstrations, clinical discussion, and participant questions.

This AI-produced recap is grounded in the original session transcript and is intended to reinforce—not replace—the full session, instructor guidance, or independent clinical judgment.