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F1000Research 2023The sternum exhibits unique anatomical variations with major clinical and forensic implications. This study is devoted to providing baseline epidemiological information... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
The sternum exhibits unique anatomical variations with major clinical and forensic implications. This study is devoted to providing baseline epidemiological information about the sternal foramen and variant xiphoid morphology in Ethiopia. Two extremely interesting and unusual variations of the sternal foramen are also discussed. This observational study was carried out using dried adult human sternum obtained from skeletal remains samples brought for medicolegal examination over a period of 4 years. A total of 94 dried adult human sternums (66 males (70.2%) and 28 females (29.8%)) were obtained with an age range of 21 to 57 years and a mean age at death of 38.383 ± 11.3480 years. Dried human sternum specimens were morphologically examined, and morphometric parameters were recorded and photographed. A sternal foramen was found in 18 specimens (19.1%); 17 were male and one was female. A single sternal foramen was observed in 83.3% (n=15/18) of the sternal bodies and 11.1% (n=2/18) of the xiphoid processes (both males). In addition, a double sternal foramen was observed in a single male specimen on the mesosternum and xiphoid process. The most common sternal foramen site was at the fifth costochondral junction level. The xiphoid process was present in 77 samples and ended as a single process in 83.1% (n=64/77) of samples. In 15.6% (n=12/77) of the samples, the xiphoid process was bifurcated and trifurcated in a single male (1.3%) specimen. The sternal foramen and variation in xiphoid morphology are common anatomical variations in Ethiopia. The findings of the current study highlight the necessity of strict precautionary measures during sternal procedures in this study population. In addition, such incidental findings during radiologic and autopsy procedures should be properly evaluated to avoid misdiagnosis and misinterpretation of such findings as traumatic or pathologic conditions.
Topics: Humans; Sternum; Male; Female; Ethiopia; Adult; Middle Aged; Young Adult; Anatomic Variation; Xiphoid Bone
PubMed: 38845617
DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.133151.1 -
Cureus May 2024Sternal non-union and fractured sternal wires are rare but devastating complications of median sternotomy for cardiac surgery, and these can lead to chronic pain,...
Sternal Complications Following Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting and Robicsek Repair: Comprehensive Sternal Reconstruction With Sternal Plating and the Use of Novel Biologic Therapies.
Sternal non-union and fractured sternal wires are rare but devastating complications of median sternotomy for cardiac surgery, and these can lead to chronic pain, instability, and impaired quality of life. Patients may present with various symptoms such as clicking sensations, chest wall discomfort, and even respiratory difficulties. The underlying causes are multifactorial, including patient comorbidities, surgical technique, and postoperative management. The treatment options range from conservative measures to complex surgical interventions, such as sternal debridement, rewiring, and reconstruction with rigid fixation systems. Novel therapeutic technologies, including amniotic membranes and platelet-rich plasma, have shown promise in promoting wound healing and reducing complications in these challenging cases. We present the case of a 58-year-old male who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and subsequently developed sternal dehiscence requiring Robicsek repair. Despite undergoing this procedure, the patient experienced poor sternal healing, and hence he was referred to our center, presenting with shortness of breath, pain due to fractured sternal wires, and sternal non-union. The patient underwent a complex sternal reconstruction involving redo full median sternotomy, removal of sternal wires, and sternal plating, along with the application of amniotic membranes and platelet-rich plasma to the sternal wound. The procedure successfully stabilized the sternum. This report highlights the benefits of a multifaceted approach to addressing repeated sternal breakdown following CABG and the potential therapeutic benefits of novel technologies in promoting wound healing.
PubMed: 38841045
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.59719 -
Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology Jun 2024A 63-y-old woman with a history of breast cancer presented with concerns of osseous metastasis. Initial whole-body planar bone scintigraphy revealed a focus of concern...
A 63-y-old woman with a history of breast cancer presented with concerns of osseous metastasis. Initial whole-body planar bone scintigraphy revealed a focus of concern overlying the sternum. SPECT/CT images revealed the anomaly-localized activity in the needleless hub attached to the chemotherapy port. If not for the precision of SPECT/CT, such a rare artifact could have led to a false-positive diagnosis, particularly impactful in breast cancer patients. This case emphasizes the critical role of SPECT/CT in accurate diagnoses.
Topics: Humans; Female; Middle Aged; Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography Computed Tomography; Breast Neoplasms; Bone Neoplasms; Artifacts
PubMed: 38839115
DOI: 10.2967/jnmt.123.266795 -
Innovations (Philadelphia, Pa.) Jun 2024There can be anatomical constraints on patient selection for minimally invasive surgery. For example, robot-assisted coronary artery bypass was reported to be more...
OBJECTIVE
There can be anatomical constraints on patient selection for minimally invasive surgery. For example, robot-assisted coronary artery bypass was reported to be more challenging when patients had a cardiothoracic ratio >50% and a sternum-vertebra anteroposterior and transverse diameter ratio <0.45. We sought to examine the impact of chest wall anatomic parameters on surgical outcomes in our totally endoscopic coronary artery bypass (TECAB) procedures.
METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent robotic TECAB, all of whom had a preoperative chest radiograph at our institution from July 2017 to October 2021. The cohort was divided into 2 groups, which were patients undergoing single-vessel grafting using the left internal thoracic artery (ITA; group 1) and patients undergoing multivessel grafting with bilateral ITA grafts (group 2). We measured several anatomical parameters from the preoperative chest radiograph.
RESULTS
A total of 352 patients undergoing TECAB were retrospectively analyzed. After exclusions, 193 were included in this study. In group 1 ( = 91), no parameters correlated with operative time. In group 2 ( = 102), a significant negative correlation was observed between operative time and the sternum-vertebrae anteroposterior diameter ( = -0.228, = 0.022) and lung anteroposterior diameter ( = -0.246, = 0.013). To confirm these results in group 2, a propensity-matched analysis was performed and showed a statistically significant difference in surgical time based on chest anteroposterior diameters.
CONCLUSIONS
In single-vessel robotic TECAB, chest wall anatomic dimensions measured on chest radiograph did not affect operative time. In multivessel cases with bilateral ITA grafts, larger anteroposterior diameter correlated with shorter operative times.
PubMed: 38835206
DOI: 10.1177/15569845241252170 -
Frontiers in Pediatrics 2024Pectus excavatum, also known as "sunken chest" or "funnel chest," is a congenital condition where the sternum caves inward, creating a noticeable depression in the...
INTRODUCTION
Pectus excavatum, also known as "sunken chest" or "funnel chest," is a congenital condition where the sternum caves inward, creating a noticeable depression in the chest. This deformity can range from mild to severe cases, and can affect appearance and lung and heart function. Treatment options vary depending on the severity of the condition and associated symptoms. A case study was conducted on three patients suffering from severe forms of pectus excavatum using modified taulinoplasty with two Pectus Up bars.
CASE DESCRIPTION
The patients were males, with an age of 15 years. Preoperatively, they underwent spirometry, an echocardiogram, and allergy tests. The procedure involved inserting two Pectus Up bars into the chest wall at the major sternal defect, allowing the implant to remain completely invisible. The procedure involved placing the sternal plate at the deepest point and anchored to the sternum with five self-tapping screws. The chest plate was then fixed to the bar using two screws.
DISCUSSION
The use of Pectus Up was first reported in 2016 and has been a subject of scientific discussion and research. The double Pectus Up technique offers improved correction, increased stability, and reduced complications. However, it also presents challenges such as increased technical complexity and potential for prolonged operative times. Patient outcomes showed promising results in terms of short-term correction and long-term stability. The use of a double bar technique in the modified Taulinoplasty procedure is a key area of ongoing clinical research and innovation in pectus excavatum repair. Further studies will be needed, including more institutions that use this technique to validate our initial experience.
PubMed: 38827216
DOI: 10.3389/fped.2024.1399202 -
Journal of Cardiology Cases Jun 2024We report a case of a 45-year-old man presenting with tachycardia and palpitation. Echocardiography indicated severe tricuspid regurgitation. We suspected traumatic...
UNLABELLED
We report a case of a 45-year-old man presenting with tachycardia and palpitation. Echocardiography indicated severe tricuspid regurgitation. We suspected traumatic tricuspid damage due to high energy trauma in a motor vehicle accident 17 years earlier. He underwent a sternotomy, and his tricuspid valve was repaired with chordal reconstruction, indentation closure, and ring annuloplasty. The postoperative period was uneventful, and he was discharged 10 days after the operation. This report highlights the value of echocardiography for diagnosis of primary tricuspid regurgitation related to trauma, and the importance of early diagnosis to allow surgical intervention before irreversible damage occurs.
LEARNING OBJECTIVE
Traumatic tricuspid regurgitation is a rare cardiovascular complication of blunt chest trauma. The mechanism of the tricuspid valve injury is thought to be secondary to sudden impact causing an anteroposterior compression of the right ventricle by the sternum in end-diastole. This injury is often incidentally identified or can be missed until the patient experiences symptoms of right heart failure resulting from severe tricuspid regurgitation.
PubMed: 38826766
DOI: 10.1016/j.jccase.2024.02.005 -
The Journal of International Medical... May 2024To compare the clinical effects of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) between the left anterior small thoracotomy (LAST) and lower-end sternal splitting (LESS)... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
OBJECTIVE
To compare the clinical effects of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) between the left anterior small thoracotomy (LAST) and lower-end sternal splitting (LESS) approaches for coronary artery disease.
METHODS
In total, 110 patients who underwent LAST from October 2015 to December 2020 in Tianjin Chest Hospital were selected as the observation group. Patients who underwent the LESS approach during the same period were analyzed. The propensity score was calculated by a logistic regression model, and nearest-neighbor matching was used for 1:1 matching.
RESULTS
The length of hospital stay and ventilator support time were significantly shorter in the LAST than LESS group. The target vessels in the obtuse marginal branch and posterior left ventricular artery branch grafts were significantly more numerous in the LAST than LESS group, but those in the right coronary artery graft were significantly less numerous in the LAST group.
CONCLUSIONS
CABG using either the LAST or LESS approach is safe and effective, especially in low-risk patients. The LAST approach can achieve complete revascularization for multivessel lesions and has the advantages of less trauma and an aesthetic outcome. However, it requires a certain learning curve to master the surgical techniques and has specific surgical indications.
Topics: Humans; Coronary Artery Bypass; Male; Thoracotomy; Female; Middle Aged; Coronary Artery Disease; Aged; Length of Stay; Sternum; Treatment Outcome; Propensity Score; Retrospective Studies
PubMed: 38818531
DOI: 10.1177/03000605241247656 -
Annals of Pediatric Cardiology 2023Pentalogy of Cantrell is a rare congenital anomaly involving the anterior diaphragm, pericardium, sternum, peritoneum, and associated intracardiac defects. In this...
Pentalogy of Cantrell is a rare congenital anomaly involving the anterior diaphragm, pericardium, sternum, peritoneum, and associated intracardiac defects. In this report, we describe a neonate with pentalogy of Cantrell evaluated with multimodality imaging and successfully managed by a multidisciplinary team.
PubMed: 38817252
DOI: 10.4103/apc.apc_188_23 -
Circulation Journal : Official Journal... May 2024The effect of a narrow chest on minimally invasive mitral valve surgery (MIMVS) is unclear.Methods and Results: We enrolled 206 MIMVS patients and measured...
BACKGROUND
The effect of a narrow chest on minimally invasive mitral valve surgery (MIMVS) is unclear.Methods and Results: We enrolled 206 MIMVS patients and measured anteroposterior diameter (APD) between the sternum and vertebra, transverse thoracic diameter (TD), right and left APD of the hemithorax (RD and LD, respectively), and the Haller index (HI; TD/APD ratio) on computed tomography. Preoperative characteristics and operative outcomes were compared between patients with a narrow chest (Group N; HI >2.5; n=53) and those with a normal chest (control [C]; HI ≤2.5; n=153), and the correlations of these measurements with operation time were evaluated in 133 patients undergoing an isolated mitral procedure. Groups N and C differed significantly in APD (89.4 vs. 114.3 mm, respectively; P<0.001), TD (251.5 vs. 240.3 mm, respectively; P=0.002), RD (152.5 vs. 172.5 mm, respectively; P<0.001), LD (155.0 vs. 172.4 mm, respectively; P<0.001), and HI (2.84 vs. 2.12, respectively; P<0.001). Procedural characteristics were comparable, except for a longer aortic cross-clamp time (ACCT) in Group N (118.7 vs. 105.8 min; P=0.047). Rates of surgical death, re-exploration, cerebral infarction, and prolonged ventilation were comparable between the 2 groups. TD was significantly correlated with ACCT (R=0.037, P=0.028) in patients undergoing an isolated mitral procedure.
CONCLUSIONS
Early MIMVS outcomes in patients with narrow chests are satisfactory. TD prolongs ACCT during MIMVS.
PubMed: 38811197
DOI: 10.1253/circj.CJ-24-0142 -
Injury Jul 2024There is a lack of studies focusing on long-term chest function after chest wall injury due to cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The purpose of this cross-sectional...
BACKGROUND
There is a lack of studies focusing on long-term chest function after chest wall injury due to cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to investigate long-term pain, lung function, physical function, and fracture healing after manual or mechanical CPR and in patients with and without flail chest.
METHODS
Patients experiencing out-of-hospital cardiac arrest between 2013 and 2020 and transported to Sahlgrenska University Hospital were identified. Survivors who had undergone a computed tomography (CT) showing chest wall injury were contacted. Thirty-five patients answered a questionnaire regarding pain, physical function, and quality of life and 25 also attended a clinical examination to measure the respiratory and physical functions 3.9 (SD 1.7, min 2-max 8) years after the CPR. In addition, 22 patients underwent an additional CT scan to evaluate fracture healing.
RESULTS
The initial CT showed bilateral rib fractures in all but one patient and sternum fracture in 69 %. At the time of the follow-up none of the patients had persistent pain, however, two patients were experiencing local discomfort in the chest wall. Lung function and thoracic expansion were significantly lower compared to reference values (FVC 14 %, FEV1 18 %, PEF 10 % and thoracic expansion 63 %) (p < 0.05). Three of the patients had remaining unhealed injuries. Patients who had received mechanical CPR in additional to manual CPR had a lower peak expiratory flow (80 vs 98 % of predicted values) (p=0.030) =0.030) and those having flail chest had less range of motion in the thoracic spine (84 vs 127 % of predicted) (p = 0.019) otherwise the results were similar between the groups.
CONCLUSION
None of the survivors had long-term pain after CPR-related chest wall injuries. Despite decreased lower lung function and thoracic expansion, most patients had no limitations in physical mobility. Only minor differences were seen after manual vs. mechanical CPR or with and without flail chest.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation; Cross-Sectional Studies; Middle Aged; Thoracic Wall; Aged; Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest; Rib Fractures; Quality of Life; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Survivors; Adult; Thoracic Injuries; Fracture Healing; Flail Chest; Sternum
PubMed: 38810570
DOI: 10.1016/j.injury.2024.111626