Hendidura esternal total en un recién nacido y parcial en una niña de 4 años / Cleft sternum: 2 clinical cases

La hendidura esternal es una malformación congénita de la pared torácica que se origina en una falla embrionaria de la fusión de las valvas esternales en la línea media. El defecto debe ser reparado precozmente al nacer, para reestablecer la protección ósea de las estructuras del mediastino, prevenir el movimiento paradojal de las vísceras en la respiración, eliminar la deformidad visible y permitir un desarrollo normal de la caja torácica. Objetivo: Notificar 2 pacientes portadores de esta infrecuente malformación y revisar sus características clínicas, permitiendo realizar un diagnostico preciso, orientar el estudio y definir un adecuado tratamiento. Casos clínicos: Recién nacido masculino con una hendidura esternal completa que provoca un "distress" respiratorio y una preescolar de 4 años, con una hendidura parcial del tercio superior esternal, asociada a una cardiopatía congénita operada. Los pacientes son sometidos a una reparación quirúrgica que permitió un alta precoz y una evolución clínica favorable. Conclusión: La Hendidura Esternal es una malformación de baja frecuencia que debe ser corregida precozmente para evitar el uso de técnicas de mayor complejidad con resultados variables.

Sternal cleft: a surgical opportunity.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the results from the surgical techniques utilized to repair congenital sternal cleft. METHODS: From January, 1987 to January, 2001, 5,182 patients were seen for chest wall malformations. Eight (0.15%) had sternal cleft. The age at presentation ranged from 15 days to 5 years. Six were girls (75%). The associated malformations were congenital cardiac malformations (2 patients), maxillofacial hemangioma (1 patient). All of them underwent a surgical repair, which could be classified into 3 methods: group 1 had primary closure of the defect (3 patients); group 2 underwent partial resection of the first, second, and third costal cartilages, disruption of the sternoclavicular junction, and closure of the sternal bars with stainless steel wire (3 patients); and group 3 had mobilization and approximation of the sternocleidomastoid muscles with closure achieved with costal homograft and prosthetic mesh (2 patients). The interval for postoperative follow-up was 1 to 8 years. RESULTS: Group 1 patients developed well, although 2 of them had a slight degree of pectus excavatum in the long term not requiring surgical correction. Group 2 Patients developed without problems in all cases. One of the patients from group 3 had unsatisfactory aesthetic and functional results. He underwent reoperation with the second technique, achieving an improved result. CONCLUSIONS: Primary closure of the sternal cleft is the easiest technique. It should be performed in young infants. In the long term it can lead to a mild degree of pectus excavatum. The costal cartilage resection with mobilization of the clavicle achieved excellent results and allowed ready approximation of both sternal halves avoiding the use of costal grafts and prosthetic material.