Carbon fibre-enforced stabilization system for ministernotomy resynthesis.

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Surgery
• Biomaterials Science
• Medical Device Technology

Background:

• Sternal dehiscence is a serious complication following median sternotomy, with incidence rates ranging from 0.2% to 5%.
• Risk factors include obesity, advanced age, diabetes mellitus, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and the use of bilateral internal thoracic arteries.
• Traditional steel wire closure methods are associated with higher dehiscence rates (up to 11.8%), while titanium plates have shown improved outcomes (1.5%).

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the STERN FIX Sternal Stabilization System for sternal closure.
• To present a case study and video tutorial of ministernotomy closure using the STERN FIX system.

Main Methods:

• The STERN FIX system is a biocompatible, carbon-fibre reinforced poly-ether-ether-ketone device designed for sternal stabilization.
• The closure procedure involves five steps: sizing, marking, device placement, closure, and excess segment trimming, complemented by cerclage wire.
• A video tutorial demonstrates the application of the STERN FIX system in a ministernotomy case.

Main Results:

• The STERN FIX system demonstrated a 0% incidence of sternal dehiscence at 6 months in a cohort of 30 patients.
• This outcome is comparable to established techniques like the Robicsek method.
• The device's design, which avoids perforating the intercostal fascia, potentially reduces retrosternal bleeding.

Conclusions:

• The STERN FIX Sternal Stabilization System offers a safe and effective method for sternal closure, significantly reducing the risk of sternal dehiscence.
• Its innovative design and satisfactory initial results suggest it as a valuable alternative to traditional sternal closure techniques.
• Further studies are warranted to confirm these findings in larger patient populations.