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The Daily Insight

What tool is used for sternotomy?

Author

Olivia Shea

Updated on May 04, 2026

A sternal saw is a bone cutter used to perform median sternotomy, opening the patient’s chest by splitting the breastbone, or sternum.

How do you perform a sternotomy?

The surgeon makes an incision in the skin and tissue along the sternum’s midline. The surgeon uses a saw to cut through the sternum to expose the thoracic cavity. The surgeon performs the required surgery. The surgeon usually places chest drains before closing the incision.

What type of wire is used in open heart surgery?

Titanium and its alloys are considered reliable materials commonly used in heart surgeries. A patient had severe inflammation at the median sternotomy wound develop after open heart surgery. Sternal wires were removed and were found to be seriously corroded on most of the surface.

How do they cut the breastbone for open heart surgery?

Making the Incision – In the case of classic open heart surgery, the breast bone will be split open using a saw. Alternative approaches may use incisions to the side of the bone between the ribs or through some of the ribs on the side.

What is a sagittal saw?

A sagittal saw is a powered surgical tool that is often used in an orthopedic surgical procedure. A sagittal saw generally includes a handpiece that houses a motor and the complementary control circuit that regulates the actuation of the motor. Extending forward, distally, from the handpiece, is a planar saw blade.

What is redo sternotomy?

A redo sternotomy is challenging procedure when the heart and the aorta are closely adhered to the back of the sternum. In order to avoid damage to the cardiac chambers or the aorta during redo sternotomy, CPB can be established by peripheral cannulation.

Does your sternum grow back together after open heart surgery?

During heart surgery, the sternum is split to provide access to the heart. The sternum is wired back together after the surgery to facilitate proper healing.

What is a sagittal blade used for?

A sagittal saw is the primary tool used by orthopedic surgeons for resection of bone. Generally, sagittal saws are used in confined spaces where the stroke length of the blade must be minimized to reduce inadvertent cutting of surrounding tissue and to permit precise control of the saw by the surgeon.

What is a sternotomy and how is it performed?

What is a sternotomy? A sternotomy is a surgical opening in the middle of the chest at the breastbone (sternum) to provide access to the chest cavity for heart procedures or other thoracic surgeries. A sternotomy is a surgical incision made through the breastbone (sternum) to access the thoracic cavity.

How reliable is manual sternal assessment following a sternotomy?

Intra-rater reliability estimates for manual sternal assessment in the patient group gave ICC (2, 1) values between 0.92 and 0.99. Conclusions: The SIS is a noninvasive, feasible, physical assessment tool that can be administered reliably by medical and health professionals following a median sternotomy.

What is a hemiclamshell sternotomy?

Hemiclamshell sternotomy (thoracosternotomy): a partial sternotomy with a horizontal incision on either side of the sternum in the fifth or sixth intercostal space. Modified thoracosternotomy: a clamshell sternotomy with a modified sternal incision closure technique of the sternum with crossed wires.

How do you close a sternal incision?

The surgeon usually places chest drains before closing the incision. The surgeon uses titanium wires to bind the sternum together or may use a titanium plate with screws. An advanced development in sternal closure is using kryptonite bone cement to glue the sternum together.