Bone wax as a cause of a foreign body granuloma in a resternotomy : a case report

Methods 63 years old woman who had a previous cardiac surgery with median sternotomy was admitted for elective coronary artery bypass surgery. After re-sternotomy, different sized solid masses attached to the sternum and lying on the mediatinal structures consisting of bone wax surrounded by soft granulation tissue was seen. This material extended into the anterior mediastinum. The remnants of bone wax, surrounding inflammatory tissue and adjacent sternal callus were removed. The sternal edges were found to be separated by a cavity containing granular porridge material. The inflammatory tissue was removed together with some of the underlying bone. After performing coronary bypass surgery, the sternotomy was laid open throughout its length and the inflammatory material was scraped out to obtain bleeding bone. No wax was used during this procedure.