Blog Topics: Sternum Wires; Sternal Wires; Cracked Chest; Broken Sternum; Heart Surgery; Xray; Median Sternotomy

Although minimally invasive procedures are becoming more prevalent ([1] robotics) in the heart valve surgery community, open heart surgery is still required in most cases involving heart valve repair and heart valve replacement surgery.

That said, the sternum must be broken via [2] median sternotomy.

Yes, I know.

The sound of that for a patient or caregiver is tough to contemplate. I remember asking my cardiologist, “Ya ya ya ya mean that you’re going to crack my chest?” (That was a purposeful stutter intended to create drama by the way.)

Once you get over the fear, the reality sets. You think to yourself as you rub your chest, “Oh my gawwwwwwd. My sternum is going to be split! My surgeon is going to saw through my breast bone!”

Then comes the ultimate question, “How the heck are you going to keep my chestplate together once you fix my heart?”

The answer to that is sternum wires (also known as sternal wires).

As a double heart valve surgery patient, I can relate to this all too well!

FYI, the picture below is me one week after surgery. Obviously there are no sternum wires to be seen. Just a nice, sexy scar that measures nine inches. (So you know, my scar is almost invisible these days. Click here for my [4] heart valve surgery pictures.)

Again, sternum wires (aka sternal wires) are used to close the breastbone following the surgical procedure on the heart. The chest is then closed with special internal or external stitches.

Interesting point to note… My incisional scar (on my skin) was not stitched together.  That’s right. No stitches on my incision! Instead, [5] Dr. Vaughn Starnes used a very strong type of glue to make the skin attach.  Maybe that’s why my scar is barely visible these days.

I hope this helps explain how your chestbone is re-positioned and secured following open heart surgery. The trick is in the sternum wires (aka sternal wires).

[6] If you would like to know more about the recovery from heart surgery, please click here.

Keep on tickin!

About The Author: Adam Pick is a double, heart valve surgery patient and author of The Patient’s Guide To Heart Valve Surgery. This unique book integrates the clinical facts of heart valve surgery with the personal experiences of 78 former valve surgery patients to help patients and caregivers better understand the opportunities and challenges of heart valve surgery. [7] To learn more about Adam and his heart valve surgery book, click here.