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. 2017 Apr 4;12(1):22.
doi: 10.1186/s13019-017-0580-x.

Treatment of traumatic sternal fractures with titanium plate internal fixation: a retrospective study

Yonghong Zhao  1 , Yi Yang  1 , Zongli Gao  1 , Weiming Wu  1 , Weiwei He  1 , Tiancheng Zhao  2
Affiliations

Treatment of traumatic sternal fractures with titanium plate internal fixation: a retrospective study

Yonghong Zhao et al. J Cardiothorac Surg. .

Abstract

Background: This study aim to evaluate surgical procedures for titanium plate internal fixation of sternal fractures with displacement or nonunion.

Methods: From January 2010 to December 2014, 64 patients with sternal fractures were treated with titanium plate internal fixation in the thoracic surgery department of the Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital. Pain severity scale scores were analyzed preoperatively and postoperatively. All the patients had a 2-month follow-up for treatment evaluation.

Results: The mean hospital length of stay was 16.89 days. Forty-five patients underwent surgery for combined injuries. A statistically significant difference (P < 0.05) was found between preoperative and postoperative pain severity scores (7.74 ± 0.89 vs. 3.80 ± 0.79, respectively). At follow-up, healing of the nonunion or fracture was confirmed in all the cases.

Conclusion: The rigid titanium plate application ensured a safe and easy management of traumatic sternal fractures and nonunion with a good prognosis as compared with other methods.

Keywords: Chest trauma; Internal fixation; Nonunion; Sternal fracture.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Different shapes of titanium plates
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
A sternal fracture with detached displacement and nonunion
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
An intraoperative, portable wet-film radiography image of the sternum
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
A patient 2 months after internal fixation for sternal and rib fractures
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Co-injury distribution pattern
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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