Longitudinal-cross-linking method of the sternum osteosynthesis – an additional way for the prophylaxis of deep sternal infection in cardiac surgery patients

The OBJECTIVE of the study was to compare the results of using the longitudinal – cross-linking method of sternum osteosynthesis with other methods (single wire stitches, 8-shaped wire stitches) for cardiosurgery patients.METHODS AND MATERIALS. The study included 3,150 patients, which were operated on in Samara cardiology dispensary named after V. P. Poliakov from 2012 to 2018. Patients were divided into 2 groups. Group 1 (1397 patients, operated on from 2012 to 2014) used single wire stitches or 8-shaped wire stitches for sternum osteosynthesis. Group 2 (1753 patients, operated from 2015 to 2018) used the longitudinal -cross-linking method of sternum osteosynthesis. The incidence of instability of the sternum without infection, superficial postoperative wound infection, deep sternal infection and hospital mortality were evaluated.RESULTS. Groups (1–68 % of men, average age (59.4±9,9) years; 2–68 % of men, average age 62.3±8.5) were significantly different in obesity patients (25.6 & 29.3 %, p=0.02), amount of smokers (50.5 & 64.2 %, p<0.001) and amount of urgent cases (3 & 10 %, p<0.001). The incidence of sternal instability without infection was less in group 2 (0.64 & 0.29 %; OR, 2.29; 95 % CI, 0.76 to 6.8; p=0.1). The amount of deep sternal infection was significant less in group 2 (1.6 & 0.6 %; OR, 2.53; 95 % CI, 1.2 to 5.2; p=0.009). The hospital mortality was 3.9 % in group 1 and 2.96 % in group 2 (OR, 1.34; 95 % CI, 0.9 to 1.9; p=0.1).CONCLUSION. The longitudinal-cross-linking method of sternum osteosynthesis is the available method that can significantly reduce the incidence of deep sternal infection in cardiosurgery.