The child often has paradoxical breathing, cyanosis, dyspnea, and recurrent respiratory infections. Physical examination reveals soft tissue fissures in the upper, lower or all of the sternal region and palpable vascular pulsations. central line defects in the upper abdominal wall, pericardial defects adjacent to the diaphragm and various types of cardiac malformations may also be seen in Cantrell syndrome. How is sternal fracture examined? The child often has paradoxical breathing, cyanosis, dyspnea and recurrent respiratory infections. The physical examination may reveal soft tissue fissures in the upper, lower or all of the sternal region, and palpable vascular pulsations; in Cantrell syndrome, a central line defect in the upper abdominal wall, a pericardial defect adjacent to the diaphragm and various types of cardiac malformations may also be seen. The diagnosis is confirmed by the clinical presentation of the child and the presence of soft tissue fissures in the sternal region on physical examination. Thoracic collapse deformity is commonly seen in funnel chest. Signs of funnel chest, the sternal body (especially the root of the saber) and its corresponding cartilage of the 3rd to 6th ribs on both sides are sunken inward, resulting in a funnel-like anterior chest wall and a displaced heart under pressure. Sternal fracture occurs when the sternal cords become obstructed in the process of mutual healing during the embryonic period, which can be clinically manifested as total or partial absence of the sternum, hemilateral absence, and window-shaped defect. Sternal cleft is more common, and its site can be seen in the upper thoracic segment, lower thoracic segment or the whole length of the sternum.