Abstract
EMBRYOLOGICALLY the sternum develops from two lateral cartilaginous bars. These unite at about the ninth month of intrauterine life. An arrest of development causes the appearance of a bifid sternum.1 All degrees of bifid sternum may occur, varying from an enlarged suprasternal notch to complete separation of the two halves of the sternum. Ectopia cordis may or may not accompany this defect in its more severe form.1-7If the heart is not completely extrathoracic, repair can generally be carried out. The occurrence of bifid sternum is a relatively infrequently reported anomaly. Only one case of a mild form of bifid sternum, reported in 1962,4made up the experience of the Cincinnati Children's Hospital. There are other reports of bifid sternum in the literature.2,3,5-10These were all associated with some degree of ectopia cordis. A syndrome of defects involving the abdominal wall, sternum, diaphragm, pericardium, and heart
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
