An alternative reinforced closure technique with external Kirschner wires in sternal dehiscence
Oguz Omay1, Emre Ozker, Cenk Indelen
1Institute of Cardiology, University of Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey.
Objective:
We present an alternative closure technique that is effective in length stabilization of the dehisced sternum, technically easy, and less time consuming.
Methods:
Between June 2000 and June 2003, 850 patients underwent open heart surgery in the participating clinics. In all of the patients, the sternotomies were primarily closed with No. 5 steel wires in a figure 8 manner or with single sutures. Eleven patients with sterile sternal dehiscence underwent operations with Kirschner wires.
Results:
During the postoperative period, no complications related to the implants were observed in any of the patients in the early and late follow-ups.
Conclusion:
With this technique, the fragile sternum is easily and effectively stabilized by reinforcing with suprasternal Kirschner wires without applying complicated manipulations.
