Feasibility of primary sternal plating for morbidly obese patients after cardiac surgery

Morbidly obese patients (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 35 kg/m²) who undergo cardiac surgery involving median sternotomy have a higher-than-normal risk of sternal dehiscence. To explore a potential solution to this problem, we examined the utility of transverse sternal plating for primary sternal closure in morbidly obese cardiac surgical patients.

We retrospectively reviewed data from cardiac surgical patients who underwent single primary xiphoid transverse titanium plate reinforcement for primary sternal closure from August 2009 to July 2010 (n = 8), and we compared their outcomes with those of patients with BMI ≥35 kg/m² who underwent cardiac surgery without sternal plate reinforcement from April 2008 to July 2009 (n = 14). All cases were performed by the same surgeon.

The 2 groups of patients had similar demographics and comorbidities (P > 0.05 for all). All patients with sternal plate reinforcement reported sternal stability at last follow-up (at a median of 27 months postoperatively; range, 8.4-49.3 months), whereas 1 patient (7.1%) who underwent standard closure developed sterile sternal dehiscence (P = 0.4). Postoperative patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) morphine usage was significantly higher for patients without sternal plate reinforcement than for patients who had sternal plate reinforcement (3.6 mg/h vs 1.3 mg/h, P = 0.008). No patient in the sternal plate group had wound seroma or perioperative complications attributable to sternal closure technique.

Single xiphoid transverse plate reinforcement for primary sternal closure is a feasible option for morbidly obese patients, who are otherwise at high risk of developing sternal dehiscence. Using this technique may decrease postoperative narcotics usage. Morbidly obese patients (body mass index ≥35 kg/m²) have a higher-than-normal risk of sternal dehiscence after cardiac surgery. In a pilot study, we found that those who underwent transverse sternal plating (n = 8) had no sternal dehiscence and required less postoperative analgesia than patients who underwent standard wire closure (n = 14).