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...

Introduction: Cleft lip and palate are among the most common congenital anomalies worldwide. This study was conducted in order to explore the incidence and related factors of cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) among live births in Mashhad, North-Eastern Iran.   Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, records of 28,519 infants born between March 1982 and March 2011 at three major hospi...

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...

OBJECTIVES Various methods for sternal approximation have been described previously. Some patients undergoing these procedures are at risk for sternal dehiscence and mediastinitis. We used a different method, with a suture anchor system, for median sternotomy closure as an alternate technique in patients with a high risk of postoperative sternal dehiscence and sternal nonunion. MATERIAL AND M...

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...