Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2006; 54(7): 468-473
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-924437
Original Cardiovascular

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Influence of more than Six Sternal Fixation Wires on the Incidence of Deep Sternal Wound Infection

Ö. Friberg1 , L.-G. Dahlin2 , B. Söderquist3 , J. Källman4 , R. Svedjeholm2
  • 1Department of Cardiothorac Surgery and Anesthesiology, Örebro University Hospital, Örebro, Sweden
  • 2Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Linköping University Hospital, Linköping, Sweden
  • 3Department of Clinical Microbiology, Örebro University Hospital, Örebro, Sweden
  • 4Department of Infectious Diseases, Örebro University Hospital, Örebro, Sweden
Further Information

Publication History

Received March 8, 2006

Publication Date:
06 November 2006 (online)

Abstract

Background: The aim of the present study was to examine the influence of the number of sternal fixation wires used on deep sternal wound infection rate and to analyze any possible interaction between this and local collagen-gentamicin prophylaxis evaluated in a previous trial. Methods: The number of sternal fixation wires in all patients from one of two participating centers was counted. The patients were categorized according to six or fewer (standard technique, ST group) vs. seven or more wires (extra wires, XW group). Results: The incidence of deep sternal wound infection was 4.2 % in the ST group and 0.4 % in the XW group (p = 0.001). An analysis of the effect of local gentamicin, excluding the ST group from the analysis, showed an approximately 70 % reduction in sternal wound infection for all depths. Conclusion: This study supports the theory that additional fixation wires at the lower sternum actually reduce the incidence of deep wound infections. We suggest that a rigid sternal fixation is required to achieve the full benefit of local collagen-gentamicin prophylaxis.

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Örjan Friberg

Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery and Anesthesiology
Örebro University Hospital

70185 Örebro

Sweden

Phone: + 46 1 96 02 10 00

Fax: + 46 1 96 11 39 43

Email: orjan.friberg@orebroll.se