SECONDARY STERNAL REPAIR FOLLOWING MEDIAN STERNOTOMY USING INTEROSSEOUS ABSORBABLE SUTURES AND PECTORALIS MAJOR MYOCUTANEOUS ADVANCEMENT FLAPS

A consecutive series of 19 patients were treated for median sternotomy dehiscence by secondary sternal closure with interosseous absorbable sutures and superimposed pectoralis major myocutaneous advancement Bap s. Tl?esl patients were selected for this treatment only on the basis of the quality and quantity of remaining bone stock after debridement. Using this technique there have been no failures of primary therapy w ith a zero 30-day mortality rate. All patients have achieved good func tional and aesthetic results with mechanically stable sternums, wounds confined to the chest and elimination of se:psis. This technique has the advantages of being simple, safe and relatively quick and avoids m any of the inherent complications and disadvantages of other technique s and flaps commonly used in the management oi: this complication.