Sternal instability after cardiac surgery can lead to poor bony healing, as well as
deep sternal wound infections and mediastinitis. Rigid plate fixation is associated
with greater stability and fewer complications compared with wire cerclage, however,
rigid plate fixation alone lacks posterior stability of the sternum and may be less
effective in morbidly obese or osteoporotic patients. This article describes a surgical
technique of combined rigid plate fixation and wire cerclage that provides 360-degree
stabilization for sternotomies in high-risk patients. We employed this technique in
40 patients with no incidence of deep sternal wound infection.
Keywords
sternum - surgical technique - wound infection
