The outcome of sternal wire removal on persistent anterior chest wall pain after median sternotomy.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of wire removal on a consecutive series of patients with persistent anterior chest wall pain after median sternotomy.

Methods: Ninety-five patients receiving sternal wire removal during the period January 1994-October 2001 were included in a follow-up study. Preoperative data, data from the primary operation, the postoperative course, and the sternal wire removal were collected from patient histories.