Sternal malunion fixation using a Titanium Sternal Fixation System in a diabetic patient. The first of its kind in Scotland

Sternal non-union is a rare but serious complication post-sternotomy. It is defined as sternal pain with clicking, instability, or both for more than 6 months in the absence of infection and usually presents in an outpatient setting. It may result in multiple admissions to the hospital for surgical debridement and wound care therapies. Several risk factors have been identified in the literature but treatment options are limited. Proven benefits of increased stability and decreased incidence of non-union using the principles of rigid fixation have been described in other surgical specialties such as orthopaedic surgery. Employing this, the authors describe the first successful sternal non-union fixation using the Titanium Sternal Fixation System (DepuySynthes) in Scotland