non union of sternum

[Wolf177]

My husband had open heart surgery in 2004.  The pain in his chest never went away and one year later, the doctor finally tested him and said he had a broken wire.  In 2005 he was opened up again and the wire removed.  That was all that was done becaust the doctor said his heart muscle had attached to his sternum.  Now he has to live with the pain which is getting worse.  he can not life anything more than 10 lbs.  When the pain comes, if it is in the left side, we have no way of knowing whether it is a heart attack or not.  Now the pain is starting to move all over and around his rib cage.  The pain comes on so severly.  Last night he lifted a 5 gallon bottle of water, which he knows he shouldn't), but hates to feel helpless as he says.  This did quite a number on him, worse yet.  Today he is on the sofe in one spot, took a pain pill and is trying to stay still until the pain goes away.  I just don't know where we can go from here.  He is overweight, has diabetes and his doctor said he would not reopen him unless his back was against the wall.  Has anyone out there had/have a problem like this.
Thanks,
Mary Anne

[Archibald S Miller III, MD,FACS]

I am Dr. Arch Miller and am on the recostructive surgery forum . I am very interested in the repair of unstable sternums. I recommend you go to the web site rapidsternalclosure.com and you can see an animation of the type of repair I do. Also, Dr. Scott Levin of Duke University and DR. James Spann  of Tulsa do these complex repairs. This problem is actually quite common, and it is just now being addressed. Please contact one of us and we can help . Respectfully,
     arch s miller ms md facs