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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 2007;32:391-393. doi:10.1016/j.ejcts.2007.04.028
Copyright © 2007, European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Case reports

Osteosynthetic thoracic stabilization after complete resection of the sternum

Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, German Heart Center Munich, Clinic at the Technical University, Munich, Germany

Received 22 February 2007; received in revised form 28 March 2007; accepted 2 April 2007.

^_* Corresponding author. Address: German Heart Center Munich, Clinic for Cardiovascular Surgery, Lazarettstraße 36, 80636 Munich, Germany. Tel.: +49 89 12180; fax: + 49 89 12180. (Email: voss{at}dhm.mhn.de).

We present a case of a 66-year-old diabetic patient with chronic non-healing sternum after CABG operation. After four attempts of sternum refixation within 2 years, the need of bone debridement resulted in a nearly complete loss of sternum. Finally, a mesh graft and a pectoralis muscle flap were used to bridge the sternal space. Despite good wound healing, the thoracic instability led to intolerable chest pain persisting over the next years. In this case report, we describe the successful thoracic stabilization by using transverse plate fixation, which resulted in perfect thoracic stabilization and immediate cessation of pain.

Key Words: Sternal non-union • Rigid plate fixation • Osteosynthesis • Chest wall reconstruction

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