all sternal wires are broke i have scar tissue from them moving

all my  sternal wires are broke i have scar tissue from them moving on my rib cage i have a doctors appt monday are they finnally going to take them out i can feel them move from time to time? please anyone can u give me some answers pllzz i am freakin out

[skydnsr]

Assuming your sternal incision has healed well, you don't need the wires anymore, and what happens next is pretty much up to you.  They can be taken out if they bother you badly enough that you want to go through a procedure to have them taken out.  I think it's usually the patient's choice on something like that.  If all of mine were broken, and if I could feel them moving around, and if I had scar tissue from it, I think I would want them out.  That has to hurt.  

If you do decide that you want the wires taken out, I seriously doubt that it is going to happen at this upcoming appointment on Monday.  More likely, you will be scheduled for an outpatient surgical procedure.  If the doctor who you are meeting with on Monday is not a surgeon, then you will be referred to a cardiothoracic surgeon.  This will be a trivial procedure for a cardiothoracic surgeon.  

If you opt for this, I doubt you will have to spend the night in the hospital, but I think you will probably have to be sedated for it.  They MIGHT be able to do it with just a local anaesthetic, but I think most people who have this done are at least somewhat sedated and maybe completely unconscious.  

You can ask all the questions you have at this appointment on Monday.  No need to freak out.  You're not helpless.  You get to make decisions.  You can probably keep the wires in you, if you want.  You can ask the doctor what will happen if you DON'T have them taken out.  Ask if he has a recommendation.  He may tell you you should go ahead and have them out, or he may tell you they will stabilize if you leave them alone.  See what he thinks.  That's what you're going to the appointment for, to get information so you can make a decision.

Hopefully someone will chime in who has already had it done.

[sarah_campbell]

i have already asked ad they said that if it moves a little to the left it could puntcure my heart lung and arotia

[skydnsr]

Okay, then, it sounds like you probably need to have them out.  Then you can stop worrying.  Is this the surgeon you are meeting with on Monday?

[sarah_campbell]

yes

[skydnsr]

Okay, great!  Things are moving right along.  Is the same surgeon who did your open-heart and put the wires in?

[skydnsr]

If it is, then you already know him, and hopefully you feel comfortable with him.  If you are nervous about that part, feel free to post and talk about it.

The other thing I wanted to say is that I'm sure if you were at significant risk of getting a heart, lung, or aorta injury between now and the time they can routinely schedule you to remove the wires, they would not let you be walking around outside of a hospital.  They would take them out on an emergency basis.  I'm sure it still makes you nervous to think about it, but it sounds to me like taking out the wires is just a precaution.  I think you probably shouldn't take up martial arts or gymnastics or anything like that between now and then, but you probably weren't going to do that anyway.  So try to stay calm and relax about it, as much as you can.

[skydnsr]

I believe everything is going to be fine.  I have one or two broken wires, myself.  I have had for years.  I think I grew some scar tissue around them so they don't move anymore.  I'm still here!

[ed34]

Im surprised that the wires can actually break. What on earth causes it? surely the gauge of the wire is sufficient for the job, if not Im surprised it hasnt been raised.
Is it that some surgeons twist them too much, weakening the wire?

[skydnsr]

Ed, I think it's something that just happens.  I've had it happen with two OHS and two different surgeons.  The second surgeon is literally world-renowned; I don't think it was poor surgical technique on his part.  On another forum, I see people writing about broken wires from time to time, and they don't generally have other complaints about their surgery.  I think that most of the time, broken wires don't cause any particular problems, and people generally don't have to do anything about it.  A lot of people probably have broken wires and don't even know it.  

[ed34]

Well, you learn something every day, but it still shocks me. To think we can put people into space, land them on the moon, build a huge aircraft to harry several hundreds of passengers (A380) and make fighter jets to take huge stress loads etc etc. YET we can't wire a couple of bones together without the wires snapping. sheeesh. Makes you wonder dont it.

[kenkeith]

European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery

Cause:The synergic effect of stress and poor wire quality could be the precursors of material failure for the sternal wire.

Results: All examined fractured wires showed the presence of severe transversal cracks and crevice corrosion. EDAX revealed aluminum oxide inclusion on the fractured surface.

[ed34]

ah, that makes sense, thanks for that.

[skydnsr]

Hey, we can put people into space, land them on the moon, build a huge aircraft to carry several hundreds of passengers, and make fighter jets to take huge stress loads.  Yet we cannot schedule people in to see the doctor without -- oftentimes, anyway -- major confusion, a long wait, and rudeness when you get there.  Technology isn't everything.  I'd settle for less technology and more consideration and kindness in the health care system.  A few broken sternal wires here and there would be a lot easier to take, if we had that.  I guess that's my soapbox statement for today.