title: [The treatment of sternal wound infection by internal fixation of sternum with titanium plate after cardiac surgery].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the internal fixation of sternum with titanium plate for the treatment of sternal wound infection after cardiac surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study of 26 patients from Jan 2009 to Dec 2011 was carried out. All the 26 cases with sternal wounds infection after cardiac surgery, were treated by internal fixation with titanium plates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All the patients had chronic infection, lasting for more than 3 months. 3 patients received vacuum-assisted closure treatment after complete debridement. All the wounds were covered with pectoral major muscle flap. All the wounds healed completely with no recurrence of infection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Internal fixation of sternum with titanium plate can increase the stability. It helps to improve the treatment efficacy of sternal wound infection after cardiac surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
authors.forename: Fa-Zhi
authors.initials: FZ
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.forename: Zi-Hao
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jian-Ying
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Gu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001860:Bone Plates; D005260:Female; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000601:surgery*; D019616:Thoracic Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects; D035441:Thoracic Wall / Q000601:surgery; D014025:Titanium
chemical_list: D014025:Titanium