title: A novel modified Robicsek technique for sternal closure: "Double-check".
abstract: A median sternotomy is the most common approach for cardiac and great vessel surgery. After a median sternotomy, healing complications such as instability, nonunion, and infection, are rare but devastating. Predisposing factors for sternal complications are old age, diabetes, steroid treatment, postmenopause state, obesity, reoperation, and the use of bilateral internal mammary arteries. Patients with sternal dehiscence frequently require reoperation to maintain optimum sternal stability. The technique chosen for sternal closure must provide excellent sternal approximation. We describe a modified Robicsek procedure reinforced with figure-of-8 sternal wires. We named this technique "double-check".
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Turkiye Yuksek Ihtisas Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Gokhan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lafci
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Turkiye Yuksek Ihtisas Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Emre
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yasar
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Turkiye Yuksek Ihtisas Hospital, Ankara, Turkey farux@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Omer Faruk
authors.initials: OF
authors.lastname: Cicek
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Turkiye Yuksek Ihtisas Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Irdem
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Ankara Research and Education Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Alper
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Uzun
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Corum State Hospital, Corum, Turkey.
authors.forename: Adnan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yalcinkaya
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001864:Bone Wires; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012086:Reoperation; D056346:Sternotomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013249:Sternum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D013529:Surgical Wound Dehiscence / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D058106:Wound Closure Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation; D014945:Wound Healing
keywords: Bone wires; fracture fixation; internal; sternotomy; sternum; thoracic surgical procedures