Sternalock plating system for elderly post-sternotomy patients

Excerpt

Sternal nonunion after median sternotomy is very stressful for patients and is counted as one of the major postoperative complications reducing quality of life. Conventionally, sternal fixation using metallic wires, sutures, etc., has long been performed. However, postoperative intermittent stress on these fixative materials can cause breakdown of the materials. There are also cases in which the sternum itself rather than the fixative materials is broken. Such events can lead to mediastinal hematoma, necessitating a second thoracotomy or resulting in nonunion in some joints or sternal osteomyelitis [1]. Possible risk factors for sternal nonunion include severe obesity, insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, steroid therapy, coronary artery bypass grafting with the bilateral internal thoracic arteries, and the necessity of loading body weight onto the arms at the time of standing up or walking. …