Rigid Primary Sternal Fixation Reduces Sternal Complications Among Patients at Risk.

BACKGROUND

The optimal sternal closure technique in patients at elevated risk after cardiac surgery has not been elucidated.

METHODS

Between January 2006 and July 2015, 15,048 consecutive adult patients underwent cardiac surgery via median sternotomy using cardiopulmonary bypass. Rigid sternal fixation using 3 separate techniques (peristernal polyether ether-ketone banding, titanium plating, and stainless steel multibraided cables with cannulated screws) was used in 1111 patients (group A), whereas conventional peristernal/transsternal wiring was used in 13,937 patients (group B). Predictors of deep sternal wound infection or dehiscence were evaluated, and propensity score analysis was used to create 2 matched groups; 1050 group A patients (94.5%) were matched to group B patients.

RESULTS

Mean time to presentation was 31 ± 70.3 days (median, 19) after surgery. There was a decreased incidence of deep sternal wound infection or dehiscence among propensity score-matched group A compared with group B patients (1.9% vs 2.7%, P = .13), although it was not statistically significant. On multivariate analysis, group A was associated with a 33% relative risk reduction of deep sternal wound infection or dehiscence (odds ratio, 0.67; 95% confidence interval, 0.48-0.94; P = .02); this was entirely due to a protective effect associated with polyether ether-ketone banding (odds ratio, 0.4; 95% confidence interval, 0.3-0.7; P = .0002). In the subgroup of bilateral internal mammary artery grafting patients (n = 886), there was a strong protective trend associated with preventative sternal fixation, although it was not statistically significant (odds ratio, 0.3; 95% confidence interval, 0.09-1.09; P = .06).

CONCLUSIONS

Primary sternal fixation in patients at risk of sternal complications is associated with decreased sternal infection and/or dehiscence. Primary fixation may expand the use of bilateral internal mammary artery grafting to patient populations at increased risk for sternal complications.