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. The patients were attempted contacted by telephone, and interviewed about the outcome of the wire removal.

Results: Wire removals were performed 2.7+/-3.3 (SD) years (40 days-20 years) after the primary procedure. Wire removal appeared to occur more frequently in patients with allergies, patients receiving valve-related procedures, and patients that had been reoperated for surgical complications within the first month after the primary operation. In 79 patients, the pain was unrelated to skin affection or infection. Full follow-up was available for 71 patients. For 24 patients only partial follow-up was possible since the patients were dead (n = 19) or unreachable (n = 5). Of the patients followed up, 86% reported complete or partial relief of symptoms, while 11% reported no change in symptoms, and 3% reported worsening of symptoms after wire removal. In patients (n = 23) where symptoms appeared to be related to specific wires, only these were removed, and this approach produced as good results as for patients where all wires were removed.

Conclusions: The surgical results were generally good. Sternal wire removal should be offered to patients with persistent anterior chest wall pain after sternotomy, when other serious postoperative complications have been excluded.