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European J Pediatr Surg Rep. 2015; 03(02): 064-067
DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1552561
Case Report
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Surgical Repair of a Superior Sternal Cleft in an Infant

Tobias Klein
1   Department of Pediatric Surgery and Pediatric Urology, Children's Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
,
Maximilian Kellner
2   Department of Pediatric Radiology, Children's Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
,
Thomas Michael Boemers
1   Department of Pediatric Surgery and Pediatric Urology, Children's Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
,
Birte Mack-Detlefsen
1   Department of Pediatric Surgery and Pediatric Urology, Children's Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

11 November 2014

30 March 2015

Publication Date:
15 June 2015 (online)

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Abstract

Sternal cleft is a rare congenital malformation with little more than 100 cases published worldwide. Incomplete sternal clefting in a female newborn is the most frequent form seen. First-line treatment is the surgical defect closure in the neonatal period. Presurgical examination has to focus on common associated malformations, in particular cardiac defects. The surgical repair of sternal cleft itself shows satisfying functional and cosmetic results with low complication rates. We present the case of a 4-month-old male infant with a superior sternal cleft.

Keywords

sternal cleft - chest wall malformation - infant - pericardial patch
 

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