Oct 23, 2023 · Sternal dehiscence of the median sternotomy closure is an infrequent post sternotomy complication. It may be latent or difficult to detect clinically, or it may be sudden and very obvious. It may lead to sternal non-union. It may or may not be complicated by infection.

Feb 1, 2019 · Plain chest radiography can clearly show early signs of sternal dehiscence; however, physicians rarely scrutinize the films for wire placement. Subtle signs include loss of …

Mar 8, 2025 · On a chest X-ray, a sternotomy typically appears as a vertical midline density representing the healed or healing sternum. The most distinctive feature is the presence of sternal wires, which appear as bright white horizontal lines crossing the sternum.

Oct 9, 2018 · In sternal wire displacement, radiographs show lateralization of the displaced wires ranging from 6 to 45 mm (mean, 20 mm) with a mean number of displaced wires of 2.3 in patients with sternal dehiscence [7, 29].

A: Erosion in sternal body. Soft tissue changes were subtle on CT. B-C: Bone marrow edema signal and enhancement in the sternum and adjacent soft tissues. Carlos SR et al, Imaging Appearances of the Sternum and Sternoclavicular Joints. Robinson CM et al, Disorders of the sternoclavicular joint. J Bone Joint Surg [Br] 2008;90-B:685-96.

Chest x-ray demonstrates sequelae of previous CABG surgery - midline sternotomy wires and multiple mediastinal surgical clips.

Apr 13, 2020 · Learn how and why sternum wires are used during heart surgery including post-op facts about MRI tests and chest wire removal after surgery from Dr. Schaffer.

On postoperative day 5, the widely separated sternal wires indicated advanced sternal dehiscence. Loss of alignment and central sternal lu-cency are the earliest radiographic signs of de-hiscence. Awareness of early subtle signs can lead to prompt diagnosis and treatment to pre-vent progression to gross sternal dehiscence.

Any problems scanning patients with sternal wires after cardiac surgery? Closure of a midline sternotomy incision using wires is the standard method used for decades.

Mar 14, 2025 · Four axial contrast-enhanced CT images of the chest are shown, from highest (top left) to lowest (bottom right). The sternum has separated (white arrow) with some of the wires attached to the right half (blue circles) and one of the wires attached to the left half (red circle).