Complete sternal cleft in an adult: case report

Area of Science:

• Congenital anomalies
• Thoracic surgery
• Cardiothoracic surgery

Background:

• Sternal clefts are rare congenital anomalies affecting sternum development.
• Complete sternal clefts are exceptionally uncommon, presenting unique surgical challenges.

Observation:

• A case of a complete sternal cleft in a 25-year-old female patient is presented.
• The patient had a history of pectus excavatum requiring surgical correction.

Findings:

• Surgical correction involved direct approximation of the sternal remnants.
• No tissue grafts or inert prostheses were necessary for closure.
• Excellent functional and cosmetic results were achieved post-operatively.

Implications:

• This case demonstrates the efficacy of direct surgical closure for complete sternal clefts.
• Minimally invasive techniques may offer favorable outcomes in complex thoracic reconstructions.
• Further research into optimal surgical strategies for sternal anomalies is warranted.