Abstract
Sternal non-union is a rare complication of median sternotomies following cardiac surgery. It results in sternal instability and is associated with a high rate of morbidity. Patients with sternal non-union usually complain of pain and sternal clicking with movement of the chest wall. Diagnosis is confirmed on computed tomography showing a gap between two sternal halves. Surgical correction of sternal instability is challenging. The key objective is to reconstruct a thoracic cage that allows for biomimesis and preserves normal physiologic cardiac and pulmonary functions all whilst achieving an aesthetically pleasing result. In this article, we describe a novel technique for sternal instability reconstruction using a triple-barrel vascularized free fibula flap fixed with rib titanium plates. This approach provides rigid long-lasting stability while preserving chest wall biomechanics.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 79-82 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Journal | Annals of Burns and Fire Disasters |
| Volume | 37 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| State | Published - Mar 2024 |
Keywords
- free fibula flap
- microsurgery
- sternal reconstruction
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Emergency Medicine
- Emergency
- Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine