Sternal fractures: retrospective analysis of 100 cases

Isolated sternal fractures are seen with increasing frequency in road accidents, especially since the introduction of seatbelt legislation. The medical records of all our patients who were treated with a diagnosis of sternal fracture (SF) over the past two decades were retrospectively reviewed to determine the incidence, morbidity, and mortality of this entity. Between 1984 and 1998, 100 consecutive patients were admitted to the Department of Surge Surgery, General Hospital of Nikea-Piraeus, Greece, for SF. There were 72 men and 28 women ranging in age between 17 and 84 years. Sixty-seven patients sustained an isolated SF and the remaining 33 had a SF in combination with multiple injuries such as flail chest (n = 19), head injury (n = 18), limb fractures (n = 10), spinal fractures (n = 4), hear contusion (n = 1), hemo-pneumothorax (n = 9), pneumothorax (n = 6), hemomediastinum (n = 5), and pericarditis (n = 2), among others. All patients with a radiological diagnosis were admitted for cardiac monitoring for at least 24 hours. Electrocardiogram (ECG), determinations of cardiac enzyme levels such as lactic dehydrogenase, creatine kinase, and creatine kinase-MB, and evaluation by a cardiologist were routinely performed. An echocardiogram was performed as indicated by the cardiologist. Seven patients underwent operation, two for abdominal bleeding, two for chest wall and sternal stabilization, two for open pneumothorax, and one for massive hemothorax. Eight of our patients needed ventilatory support. Four of them died from respiratory insufficiency, myocardial infarction, and heart and lung contusion. Although an isolated SF carries a good prognosis, careful evaluation and clinical observation are essential.