HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Personal Folders Download to citation manager Author home page(s): Pasquale Totaro Vincenzo Argano Permission Requests Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Totaro, P. Articles by Argano, V. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Totaro, P. Articles by Argano, V. Related Collections Chest wall

Longitudinal Reinforcement for Treatment of Sternal Dehiscence

Division of Cardiac Surgery, Regional Cardiac Center, Morriston Hospital, Swansea, United Kingdom

For reprint information contact: Pasquale Totaro, MD Tel: 39 091 698 1111 Fax: 39 091 676 1612 Email: ptotaro{at}yahoo.com, Villa Maria Eleonora Hospital, Palermo 90135, Italy.

Re-fixation of the sternum after sternal dehiscence is still a problem following cardiac surgery. An original technique that allows reinforcement against various causes of dehiscence is described. The technique consists of 3 additional overlapping longitudinal wires set on both sides of the sternum. Over 2 years, this technique was applied in 34 patients, with complete sternal re-fixation in all, and no signs of recurrence on follow-up.