Sternal bracing: an approach to treatment of sternal fractures.

Sternal fractures may be complicated by potentially fatal injuries with reported mortality rates between 25% and 45%. Initially close monitoring of cardiac and respiratory status is essential.Twenty-one patients averaging 25.76 years of age were treated with the sternal brace. Males predominated 13 to 8. Motor vehicle accidents accounted for the majority of these sternal fractures. Only three of these patients sustained injuries serious enough to warrant long hospitalization periods (10 to 14 days) with other cases averaging only four days of hospital confinement.Treatment of uncomplicated sternal fractures ranges from symptomatic methods to complicated regimens requiring long periods of hospital bedrest and awkward immobilization techniques. Sternal bracing appears to offer a rational compromise. It is easy to apply and provides early painfree ambulation, satisfactory fracture immobilization, and simplified patient hygenic care.