The Novel Technique of Sternal Closure With Absorbable Mesh for Osteoporotic Patients

After a median sternotomy, sternal instability can result in sternal infection. The usual sternal closure with stainless steel wires may result in sternal instability, especially in osteoporotic patients. An absorbable mesh (Super-FIXSORB-MX®40, Takiron Co Ltd, Osaka, Japan) for reinforcing the sternum has become commercially available. This paper reports a modified sternal closure procedure using this absorbable mesh in combination with heavy braided Polydiaxanon (PDS cord®, Ethicon, Inc., Somerville, NJ, USA) for osteoporotic patients.