A novel surgical technique for transverse sternal bone defects using flexible intramedullary nailing

Transverse sternal bone defects as a result of surgery or trauma remain an important clinical condition with serious sequelae. Patients sometimes complain of local pain during movement and breathing. Usually, defects are filled with prosthetic materials which remain permanently IN SITU. Small defects can be treated with autogenous bone grafts, whereas large defects are difficult to stabilize with common osteosynthetic techniques. Here, we report a new surgical technique using flexible intramedullary nailing ("Elastic Stable Intramedullary Nailing"--ESIN or "Embrochage Centro-Medullaire Elastique Stable"--ECMES) to stabilize a sternal defect after surgical removal of an osteochondral lesion. The defect was bridged by two elastic titanium nails and an autogenous corticocancellous bone graft. This new surgical technique showed a good clinical and functional outcome.