Surgeon Q&A: Rigid Sternal Fixation: A New Approach to Sternal Closure

[@brandonwarner4498]

Shocking that so few are using this approach. Dr. Gerdisch performed open heart on me in early 2022, repairing my aortic aneurysm and repairing my unicuspid valve. He used this same approach and I was 47 at the time. I was walking a mile by day 3, post-surgery, and back into the gym lifting carefully in 2 weeks. To be honest, my deviated septum surgery was more intrusive on my life. Thank you Dr. Gerdisch and thank you to this channel…it’s how I found him when other surgeons wanted to replace my aortic valve, wire tie me back up, and have me on blood thinners the rest of my life.

[@HeartValveSurgery]

Great to hear that Dr. Gerdisch and his team took such great care of you!

[@DrRebeccaJorgensen]

Dr. Gerdisch is a fantastic surgeon. I had a sternotomy with a rigid sternum closure and had no pain ever, had immediate use of my arms and during my cardio-rehab began strength training of my upper body-it was delightful to have no restrictions of arm use or any reduced mobility post surgery. I would hope every cardiac patient who isn’t eligible for minimally invasive surgery gets the benefit of improved recovery through having a rigid sternum closure. I’m also a BIG fan of the E.R.A.S. protocol. It was amazing to get all the benefits of participating in this protocol. Thanks Adam-and big thanks to Dr. Gerdisch for leading the way in establishing and spreading these important and enhanced recovery methods.

[@HeartValveSurgery]

Wonderful to learn of your successful surgery with Dr. Marc Gerdisch. That's great!

[@themanifestationdude]

I’m getting rigid sternal fixation with my AVR. Already spoke to Dr about it!

[@HeartValveSurgery]

Great to advocate for your use of rigid sternal fixation!

[@mcgragor1]

I can attest that while I had other issues unrelated to sternum repair, this works, I had very little pain post surgery.

[@HeartValveSurgery]

That's fantastic!

[@brianpite0893]

I had mine done at BayState hospital in Massachusetts. Excellent! My only question is when i have the the surgery again do they just unscrew the brackets? Im just thinking 7 years ahead.

[@HeartValveSurgery]

In response to your question, Dr. Gerdisch stated, “For subsequent surgeries, the screws are removed (unscrewed) and the plates lift out. If for some reason rapid entry into the chest is needed, the cross bars of the plates can be rapidly cut and the plates split leaving half on each side of the sternum. They can later be removed if desired. As for better or worse, it takes a few minutes to take out the plates, but it is not difficult. In fact, taking out in-grown wires can be more challenging.”

[@brianpite0893]

@@HeartValveSurgery thank you!

[@jonjones6749]

I had heart by-pass surgery ''CABG'' and new tissue mitral valve in 2017 and I have suffered with sternal pain from the wires constantly ever since, one wire is poking me, I have tried to get the Doctors to do something about it and they say there is nothing they can do. If i had it to do all over again I would never have had CABG surgery unless they would promise me they would do this type of sternal fixation. If I am alive when this tissue mitral valve needs replaced I will never have it done unless they could do this type of fixation.

[@DrRebeccaJorgensen]

I’m so sorry for your ongoing suffering from the wire closure. Thank you for sharing your experience, I’m sure it will make a difference.

[@HeartValveSurgery]

So sorry to hear of the sternal pain that you have experienced!

[@texless69]

👏👏👏

[@HeartValveSurgery]

We agree! Good to learn more about rigid sternal fixation to help patients recover faster.

[@andrewulrich6612]

I had a 3x CABG last November. They used external fixation. I did have pretty intense pain from the surgery for the first few weeks but a year later i feel absolutely normal and the plates cause no discomfort. I had more post OP issues with the temp pacer wires. One had to be in office procedure pulled a few weeks later as it painfully had began poking back up under the skin. I still have two inside me.

[@HeartValveSurgery]

Hi Andrew, Thanks for sharing your patient experience with our community. Great to hear you are now feeling 100% after your CABG with the rigid sternal fixation.

[@3cardmonty602]

I had the traditional sternum closure and I did not feel comfortable to hang from a chin-up bar for 1.5 years. They tell you 6 weeks, but that is overly optimistic.

[@HeartValveSurgery]

Good strategy in waiting until you felt comfortable after your sternotomy with wires.

[@pjgarret7653]

RIF (Rigid Internal Fixation) has been out there for decades. I've rarely used wires as an OMS. Wires almost seem archaic. Seems ridiculous CTS is so slow adopting, but not my balliwick. If you do a lot, plate adaptation is qwik and easy.

[@HeartValveSurgery]

Hey PJGarrett, Thanks for sharing your thoughts on rigid sternal fixation!