A method for treating pectus excavatum includes making an incision in the chest of a patient, inserting, via the incision, a device comprising a sensor configured to measure force at a face disposed proximate a first end of the device, manipulating the device such that the face of the device engages a sternum of the patient, displaying, on the electronic display of the device, measurement data based on a reading taken by the sensor during the engagement of the face of the device with the sternum of the patient, and determining, based on the displayed measurement data, a number of bars to install in the patients chest, and inserting, via one or more incisions, the determined number of bars into the patients chest in such a manner as to push out the patients sternum and maintain the patients sternum in a pushed out condition.
