Sternal Hardware Migration Following Rigid Plate Fixation After Coronary Artery Bypass Graft
Hao Huang1, Craig R Smith2, Jeffrey A Ascherman1
1Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, NewYork-Presbyterian, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York.
Annals of Thoracic Surgery Short Reports
|April 24, 2026
Abstract:
Rigid plate fixation is becoming an increasingly popular option for sternotomy closure because some surgeons have reported better sternal healing and lower rates of sternal complications. This case report discusses the rare complication of hardware migration after rigid fixation using the SternaLock Blu system (Zimmer Biomet). A high index of suspicion and multidisciplinary team collaboration are important for the early recognition and management of this complication.


