Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols recognize early postoperative mobilization as a driver of faster postoperative recovery, return to normal activities, and improved long-term patient outcomes. For patients undergoing open cardiac surgery, an opportunity for facilitating earlier mobilization and a return to normal activity lies in the use of improved techniques to stabilize the sternal osteotomy. By following the key orthopedic principles of approximation, compression, and rigid fixation, a more nuanced approach to sternal precaution protocols is possible, which may enable earlier patient mobilization, physical rehabilitation, and recovery.
Keywords: Median sternotomy; Rigid fixation; Sternal bands; Sternal closure; Sternal fixation; Sternal plating; Sternal wiring; Wire cerclage.
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