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J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2004;128:623-624
© 2004 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery

Brief communication

Rigid-plate fixation for the treatment of sternal nonunion

Liza C. Wu, MDa, John Renucci, MDb, David H. Song, MD, FACSa,*

a Section of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Chicago Hospitals, Chicago, Ill, USA
b Plastic Surgery Associates, PC, Grand Rapids, Mich, USA

Received for publication February 10, 2004; accepted for publication February 23, 2004.

* Address for reprints: David H. Song, MD, FACS, University of Chicago Hospitals, Section of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 5841 S Maryland Ave, MC 6035, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
dsong@surgery.bsd.uchicago.edu

The first 20% of the full text of this article appears below.


Dr Song


Sterile sternal nonunion is defined as a persistent fracture of the sternum after 3 months without signs of healing. It is a morbid condition characterized by sternal instability, pain, and the absence of infection. In addition to being a crippling condition, one can assume that sternal instability can lead to more serious conditions.

Two causes for sternal nonunion have been described: it can be the result of cardiac surgical intervention or trauma. Regardless of the cause, only a few studies have addressed the entity of sterile sternal nonunion and its treatment.1-5 We present 6 cases of sterile sternal nonunion, including its presentation, treatment with open reduction and rigid-plate fixation with the Sternalock system (W. Lorenz Surgical, Inc, Jacksonville, Fla), and the outcomes.

Patients and methods

From October 2002 through October 2003, 6 patients were given diagnoses of sterile sternal nonunion at 2 institutions. The 4 median sternotomies were previously closed with parasternal cerclage wires, 1 . . . [Full Text of this Article]






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