A device (1) for use in the surgical treatment of a patient suffering from funnel chest characterised in that it comprises a plate adapted to be fitted underneath the skin of the patient, and further characterised in that, in use, said plate can be attached to the patient's sternum and the curvature, length and width of the plate being such that the plate extends on both sides of the sternum and on the outside of the patient's thorax and is supported by the ribs to hold up the sternum.
