Abstract: Computer systems and methods are provided for training surgeons to perform the Nuss procedure, a surgery for correcting pectus excavatum (PE), and for planning such procedures. PE is a congenital chest wall deformity, and the Nuss procedure is a minimally invasive surgery that involves implantation of a corrective bar. A surgical trainer and planner may be based on one or more of the biomechanical properties of the PE ribcage, deformable models, and visualization techniques.