title: Unexpected results after sternal reconstruction with plates, cables and cannulated screws.
abstract: During the last decade, various plate fixation systems have been developed for the treatment of complicated sternal dehiscence after open-heart surgery. One of them is the Modular Sternal Cable System© (MSCS), which promises optimal distribution of forces along the whole sternum by using plates, cannulated screws and cables. However, in comparison with other systems, there is a lack of outcome data.
  
  
  
  Sternal reconstruction with the MSCS was performed in 11 patients (male n = 10, age 72.0 ± 7.3 years) with complicated sternal dehiscence following cardiac surgery, and 73% of them had a history of sternal infection. Sternal reconstruction included bilateral longitudinal plating and thoracic re-closure with 4-9 cables. Patients received postoperative examination, focusing on sternal wound conditions and clinical stability. If there was any suspicion of recurrent wound infection, computed tomographic scans were done in the early postoperative period or in the long term, in order to evaluate bony consolidation and integrity of osteosynthetic material.
  
  
  
  The mean operation time was 165 ± 59 min, the mean intubation time 4.7 ± 5.3 min and the mean intensive care unit length of stay was 1 day (median) (range 1-23 days), with a total hospital stay of 9 days (median) (range 5-64 days). Operative mortality was 0%. One patient died on the 65th postoperative day of a non-MSCS-related cause. Sternal wound infection occurred in 6 patients (54.5%) and made hardware removal necessary in 5 of them early postoperatively (median 14 days) and in 1 patient late postoperatively (1058 days). In another patient, material was removed 715 days after MSCS application due to persisting sternal pain.
  
  
  
  A high incidence of postoperative wound infections was observed after implantation of the MSCS. It may be speculated that hardware design (e.g. the absence of a locking system, large screws) compromises osseous microcirculation, favouring the development of infection. This should be kept in mind for further development of sternal reconstruction systems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, German Heart Center Munich, Clinic at the Technical University, Munich, Germany grabert@dhm.mhn.de.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Grabert
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, German Heart Center Munich, Clinic at the Technical University, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Erlebach
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, German Heart Center Munich, Clinic at the Technical University, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Albrecht
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Will
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, German Heart Center Munich, Clinic at the Technical University, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Rüdiger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lange
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, German Heart Center Munich, Clinic at the Technical University, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Voss
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001860:Bone Plates; D001864:Bone Wires; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000639:trends; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D013249:Sternum / Q000601:surgery*; D013529:Surgical Wound Dehiscence / Q000601:surgery*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Osteosynthesis; Rigid plate fixation; Sternal dehiscence
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