Does Elective Sternal Plating Combined with Steel Wire Reduce Sternal Complication Rates in Patients with Obesity?

ABSTRACT Introduction: In this study, sternal complication rates of sternal closures with steel wire or steel wire combined with titanium plate in patients with obesity that underwent cardiac surgery were investigated. Methods: The data of 316 patients that underwent cardiac surgery between May 2018 and October 2021 were analyzed retrospectively; 124 patients withbody mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m2 were divided into group I, patients whose sternotomy was performed with steel wires, and group II, patients whose sternotomy was performed with steel wire combined with titanium plates. Results: A total of 124 patients with BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 were divided into group I (n=88 [70.9%]) and group II (n=36 [29.1%]). The rate of male patients was found to be significantly higher in group I, whereas the rate of female patients was significantly higher in group II (P