title: Traumatic fracture of nitinol thermoreactive sternal clips.
abstract: Median sternotomy can be associated with significant morbidity, including non-union, dehiscence and mediastinitis. The use of flexible thermoreactive sternal clips has been introduced recently as an alternative method of sternal closure and is advocated in patients at increased risk of sternal breakdown. It is associated with a decreased incidence of sternal complications as well as allowing faster sternal closure and easy removal on resternotomy. This report describes the case of a fractured thermoreactive clip following trauma, resulting in sternal dehiscence necessitating sternal rewiring.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, UK.
authors.forename: Jack
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Broadhurst
authors.forename: Narain
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Moorjani
authors.forename: Sunil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ohri
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000497:Alloys; D001864:Bone Wires; D004867:Equipment Design; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000295:instrumentation; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D012086:Reoperation; D056346:Sternotomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013249:Sternum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013525:Surgical Instruments; D013529:Surgical Wound Dehiscence / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000497:Alloys; C013616:nitinol