A Simple Modification of the Conventional Figure-of-Eight Sternal Closure Technique

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Surgery
• Thoracic Surgery
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Sternal closure is a critical step in median sternotomy procedures.
• Conventional figure-of-eight wiring can be associated with sternal complications.
• There is a need for improved sternal closure techniques to enhance patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and describe a modified sternal closure technique.
• To evaluate the safety and efficacy of this new technique.
• To compare complication rates with existing methods.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 143 patients undergoing sternal closure between January 2014 and December 2016.
• The modified technique involves intercalation of the caudal portion of steel wires.
• Data collected included in-hospital mortality, sternal instability, and mediastinitis.

Main Results:

• The modified technique was applied to 143 patients.
• In-hospital mortality was 1.4% (2 patients).
• No sternal instability was observed at 30 days postoperatively; two cases of mediastinitis required wire extraction.

Conclusions:

• The modified sternal closure technique is safe and effective in the short term.
• Complication rates are comparable to worldwide experiences with conventional methods.
• This technique provides secure sternal closure and may reduce sternal complications.