Efficacy of Sternum Guard vs. bone wax in post-cardiac surgery patients: a randomized controlled trial

Median sternotomy offers the main access during cardiac surgery. However, a surgical site infection (SSI) of the sternum is a distressing complication following this procedure. The incidence of postoperative superficial and deep SSI in cardiac surgery varies from 1.3% to 12.8%. Bone wax, a nonabsorbable substance applied as a mechanical barrier following a median sternotomy, can increase the risk of postoperative sternal dehiscence. Sternum Guard (Vygon, Ecouen, France), a sternal protection device used to cover the sternum after a median sternotomy, offers mechanical protection to prevent lesions on the sternum. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of Sternum Guard (Vygon) and bone wax in reducing SSI and facilitating hemostasis in post-cardiac surgery patients.