The use of rigid sternal fixation for complex poststernotomy wounds and a military-unique fracture at an army medical center

Abstract

Sternal wound complications after sternotomy carry significant morbidity and mortality rates. Sternal fractures attributable to blunt trauma may cause incapacitating pain or may be plagued by symptoms resulting from chronic nonunion. A sternal fixation system has been developed and used successfully for the management of poststernotomy complications, as well as for symptomatic fractures and fracture nonunion. This article reports the successful use of this technique for three patients at our institution. The use of rigid sternal fixation could potentially be extended to include primary sternotomy closure in patients at high risk for sternal dehiscence and nonunion. This technique may also substitute for sternal rewiring in the initial management of poststernotomy complications.