BACKGROUND We sought to assess the efficiency of two different sternal closure techniques in preventing sternal wound complications (SWC). A cost analysis was also considered. METHODS Between January 2008 and April 2010, 1,644 consecutive cardiac surgery patients who underwent cardiac surgery in our institute were prospectively collected. A total of 1,072 patients received a standard paraster...

Osteoporosis often results in fractures, deformity and disability. A rare but potentially challenging complication of osteoporosis is a sternal insufficiency fracture. This case report details a steroid-induced osteoporotic male who suffered a sternal insufficiency fracture after minimal trauma. Prompt diagnosis and appropriate management resulted in favourable outcome for the fracture, though ...

OBJECTIVE To understand the potential fracture mechanism of sternal wires, we collected extracted stainless steel sternal wires from patients with sternal dehiscence following open-heart operations. Surface alterations and fractured ends of sternal wires were inspected and analyzed. METHODS Eight fractured and 12 non-fractured wires extracted from five patients (closure method: figure-of-eigh...

BACKGROUND Stainless steel wiring remains the most popular technique for primary sternal closure. Recently, a multifilament cable wiring system (Pioneer Surgical Technology Inc., Marquette, MI, USA) was introduced for sternal closure and has gained wide acceptance due to its superior resistance to tension. We aimed to compare conventional steel wiring to multifilament cable fixation for sternal...

The purpose of this study was to determine and compare the maximum concentration (C(max)) and time to maximum concentration (T(max)) of epinephrine administered via tibial intraosseous (IO), sternal IO, and intravenous (i.v.) routes in a porcine model of cardiac arrest during cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Five pigs each were randomly assigned to 3 groups: tibial IO, sternal IO, and i.v. Cardia...

An imaging study is needed that can detect sternal wound infections and distinguish between superficial and deep sternal wound infection when a clinical diagnosis is uncertain and a decision regarding surgical intervention must be made. We retrospectively reviewed the 99mTc-leukocyte scans of 29 patients referred to rule out sternal wound infection. The presence or absence of deep or superficia...

OBJECTIVE To determine whether the FlatWire Figure 8 sternal fixation device (Penn United, USA) is mechanically superior to the current standard in sternotomy closure. DESCRIPTION Unstable sternal closure using traditional steel-wire cerclage can increase postoperative pain, bony cut-through and wound dehiscence. The authors present the Figure 8 sternal fixation device to minimize these compl...

A 51 year old woman without significant past medical history or risk factors for Nocardia infection developed primary Nocardia nova sternal osteomyelitis with mediastinal abscess, diagnosed with open biopsy. She required prolonged antibiotic therapy and had a favorable outcome. Primary sternal osteomyelitis develops in the absence of a contiguous focus of infection, as opposed to secondary ster...

The present study was to analyze clinical outcome of Pauwels grade-3 femoral neck fractures treated by different surgical techniques. Potential risk factors associated with nonunion and osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) were investigated as well. The retrospective study comprised of 67 sequential patients treated between January 2008 and December 2011. Patients with Pauwels grade-3 femor...