Abstract
Rigid plate fixation versus wire cerclage for sternal closure after coronary artery bypass grafting: a retrospective cohort study
Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Hatay Mustafa Kemal University Hatay, Turkey
Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Health Sciences University, Umraniye Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
Kardiochirurgia i Torakochirurgia Polska 2026; 23 (2): 117-126
Introduction
Sternal dehiscence remains a significant complication after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), particularly in high-risk patients. Evidence comparing rigid plate fixation with conventional wire cerclage is limited.
Aim
To compare clinical outcomes and perioperative resource utilization between rigid plate fixation and wire cerclage for sternal closure after CABG.
Material and methods
This retrospective single-center cohort study included 118 patients undergoing CABG (plate fixation n = 58; wire cerclage n = 60). The primary endpoint was sternal dehiscence. Secondary outcomes included wound infection, postoperative drainage, length of stay, and 30-day mortality.
Results
Plate fixation was associated with significantly lower sternal dehiscence (3.4% vs. 11.6%; p = 0.04), shorter length of hospital stay (7.4 ±2.1 vs. 9.1 ±2.6 days; p = 0.02), and lower postoperative drainage volumes (p = 0.03). Among obese patients, complication rates were significantly lower with plate fixation (p < 0.05). Thirty-day mortality was similar between groups.
Conclusions
Rigid plate fixation is associated with improved sternal stability and reduced morbidity, particularly among high-risk CABG patients.
Keywords
sternal closure, rigid plate fixation, wire cerclage, sternal dehiscence, coronary artery bypass grafting, postoperative complications
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