title: Novel longitudinal plate-fixation technique after gross resection of the sternum.
abstract: Herein, we describe a plate-fixation technique as an alternative method to close a fragile or fractured sternum. A 69-year-old obese woman with diabetes mellitus and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease underwent coronary artery bypass grafting. One week postoperatively, sternal instability was detected, and traditional rewiring was performed. A week later, because of multiple sternal fractures, we performed sternal resection, with use of longitudinally affixed titanium plates and figure-8 steel wires for the anterior chest wall. The procedure was uneventful, and, on short-term follow-up, the anterior chest wall was stable. This longitudinal plate-fixation technique can be tailored to each patient. We think that the technique is safe, effective, economical, and easy to implement, and it is readily reproducible. To evaluate any associated risks, long-term follow-up in additional patients is warranted.
authors: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Turkiye Yuksek Ihtisas Hospital, 06100 Ankara, Turkey. irfantasoglu@yahoo.com
authors: Irfan
authors: I
authors: Tasoglu
authors: Gokhan
authors: G
authors: Lafci
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls; D000368:Aged; D001860:Bone Plates; D001864:Bone Wires; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D003646:Debridement; D005260:Female; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D012086:Reoperation; D013232:Steel; D056346:Sternotomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D013249:Sternum / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D014025:Titanium; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D013232:Steel; D014025:Titanium