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Investigating Potential Role Of Surgeons In Sternal Wire Failure By Biomechanical Tests, Christina Salas, Rachel N. Tufaro, C Etta Tabe, Kwasi Addae-Mensah, W Daniel Tanberg, Christopher Buksa, Jessica A. Avila, Jorge A. Wernly

UNM Orthopaedic Research Journal

Background: Stainless steel wires are commonly used to close the sternum after cardiac-related operative procedures. However, complications have been reported associated with fracture of wires and subsequent migration into the chest cavity. The objective of this study was to biomechanically evaluate the role of surgeons in contributing to wire failure. We hypothesized that surgeons may impose damage to the sternal wire, which may be exacerbated by postoperative wire degradation and patient movement.

Methods: A biomimetic sternal model and custom test fixture simulated a median sternotomy. The sternum was closed by a fellowship-trained cardiothoracic surgeon using figure-of-eight and simple closure techniques. …