Alternative Sternal Closure Methods in Patients with Dehisced Sternum: Pros and Cons of Sternal Talon and Titanium Sternal Plate Fixation

ABSTRACT

Aim: Sternal dehiscence is one of the most troublesome complications following cardiac surgery. Although it can be corrected by simple methods if detected earlier, treatment failure or delay in sternal dehiscence may result in mediastinitis, which is highly lethal.  In this study, we aimed to investigate alternative sternal closure systems, mainly sternal talon (STalon) and titanium sternal plates (SPlate). Patients and Methods: In between April 2015 and January 2018, patients with sternal dehiscence after any kind of open cardiac surgery were included in this study. These patients were retrospectively evaluated according to the their demographic data, risk factors for sternal dehiscence, type of operations, techniques used for fixation of the sternum, mainly focusing on the STalon and titanium SPlate fixation. Results: A total of 45 patients were taken into surgical correction because of sternal dehiscence.  Thirty-four (75.6%) of the patients male, whereas 11 (24.4%) were female. Mean time interval after the first operation to sternal dehiscence was 68.5 days (1-780 days). Mean body-mass-index (BMI) was 31.52 kg/m² (22.03-43.69 kg/m²). Before the sternal fixation, mean CRP value was 68.34, whereas it was 75.55 before discharge. Confounding risk factors were internal mammarian artery (IMA) harvesting for coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, bronchial asthma, chronic pulmonary artery disease and advanced age. Mean post-operative intensive care unit (ICU) length-of-stay (LOS) was 5.02 days (1-29 days), whereas hospital LOS was 17.18 days (2-74 days). Early mortality was observed in 3 patients (6.67%). The first choice of operation was simple closure and/or Robicsek closure. Apart from simple and Robicsek closure techniques, sternal talon and/or titanium plates were used in 24 patients (53.3%). DM was found to be related to extanded total hospital LOS, ICU LOS, and postoperative time to discharge. DM also increased the risk of both superficial and deep sternal infection rates (p<0.05).  Conclusion: Ideal sternal closure should stabilize the sternum, be cost-effective and provide shortest hospital LOS with minimal post-operative complications. In patients with intact intercostal spaces, sternal talon may eliminate serious complications, such as cardiac rupture mainly caused by dense adhesions. Sternal plates are mainly effective in fragmented fractures without stable intercostal spaces. All patients should be individualized according to type of lesions and sternal fractures.