Sternal cleft repair: A single-institution case-series

Abstract

Sternal clefts are rare congenital thoracic deformities. This spectrum of deformities ranges from ectopia cordis (including cervical, thoracic, and thoracoabdominal) to sternal clefts (superior partial, inferior partial, and complete cleft). With relatively few reported cases in the literature, we summarize our experience at a tertiary children's hospital repairing superior partial sternal clefts via a sliding chondrotomy technique combined with sternal osteotomy for a tension-free repair. This case series reviews management of superior partial sternal clefts performed at a single institution from 2004 through 2021 by a single surgeon. Operative techniques were similar in each case. This case series reviews these patients' presentations, co-morbidities, and clinical course. Four patients underwent sternal cleft repair from 2004 to 2021. Each spent one night in the intensive care unit post-operatively for monitoring and were discharged home between three and five days post-operatively. One required a post-operative needle decompression while still in the operating room for a pneumothorax. There were no other complications. Although relatively rare, partial superior sternal clefts are not commonly associated with other major defects and can be safely repaired in infancy.