Abstract
Purpose
Operative treatment of sternal fractures has become a matter of increasing interest. Anterior plating seems to be the most appropriate method for fixing sternal fractures. However, there are several concerns in relation to the operative procedure such as severe injuries to mediastinal organs, patient comfort and proper stabilisation, for example. This paper describes a safe method of anterior sternal plating using locked plate fixation with limited depth drilling.
Methods
Ten patients with sternal fractures were included in this cohort study and were treated by anterior plating using one or two plates in parallel through a median approach to the sternum. Follow up was performed after six weeks, 12 weeks and six months.
Results
Follow up revealed no serious complications. One patient suffered from postoperative wound seroma. No problems were caused by the plates.
Conclusions
Sternal plating using low profile locked titanium plates seems to be a safe and stable method with a high level of patient comfort.
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Acknowledgments
We thank the Radiological Institute of the Erlangen University Hospital (Director: Prof. Dr. Michael Uder) for providing the X-rays and CT scans.
We also wish to thank Mr. Dominic Taylor, Erlangen, for support in preparing the English manuscript.
Conflict of interest
The first author has a consultant agreement with Synthes CMF. No funds were received in connection to the presented study.
The coauthors are not involved in any conflict of interest.
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Schulz-Drost, S., Mauerer, A., Grupp, S. et al. Surgical fixation of sternal fractures: locked plate fixation by low-profile titanium plates—surgical safety through depth limited drilling. International Orthopaedics (SICOT) 38, 133–139 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-013-2127-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-013-2127-7