A closer look at the midsternal stripe sign.

OBJECTIVE

Reports in the literature offer conflicting data on the value of the midsternal stripe sign in diagnosing sternal dehiscence. Our purpose was to determine the frequency with which the midsternal stripe sign is present in patients with dehiscence compared with a control group without this complication and to determine whether this sign adds incremental value to the sign of sternal wire displacement in the diagnosis of dehiscence.

CONCLUSION

A midsternal stripe thicker than 3 mm should raise one's suspicion of the presence of sternal dehiscence. However, this sign is rarely observed in patients with this complication and does not add incremental value to the finding of sternal wire displacement in establishing the diagnosis of dehiscence.