What is the reason for the pain in the upper part of the sternum

The body is made up of many bones, and the sternum is a relatively fragile part. If the sternum is fractured, you will feel pain in the upper part of the sternum and surgery must be performed in time. The fractured sternum can be fixed with wire. During the operation, you must be careful because there are many organs connected around the sternum. In daily life, you must pay attention to maintenance. Adding some protein-rich foods to your diet will speed up wound healing. Here is a detailed introduction.

The fixation methods for sternal fractures include wire fixation, memory alloy sternal fixator fixation, and titanium plate fixation. The traditional method of sternal fixation is to use stainless steel wire fixation. For those who do not undergo chest exploration, the surgical space behind the sternum is small, it is difficult to insert the steel wire, and it is necessary to free the anterior and posterior periosteum of the sternum, which will affect the blood supply to the sternum. In addition, the sternum fixed with wire has poor stability, wire breakage or displacement, and the longitudinal traction of the wire causes cutting tension on the sternum, and the effect is not good in cases of irregular fractures or comminuted fractures. The nickel-titanium memory alloy sternum-embracing fixator embraces the sternum between the upper and lower ribs, with a reliable fixation effect. It returns to its original shape after the temperature recovers, but it does not necessarily fit the sternum completely. The periosteum and intercostal recess at the upper and lower ends of the fracture need to be freed, and the metal body is relatively large, which can easily cause bulging of the tissue in front of the sternum after surgery. Our experience in using titanium plates to fix the sternum is as follows:

(1) The operation is convenient and safe, with a short operation time, little bleeding, and no need for drainage;

(2) The sternum is stable after surgery and no sternal displacement occurs;

(3) The patient recovered quickly after surgery, with significant improvement in breathing and pain.

Based on the lateral and oblique chest X-ray examination, the diagnosis can be made if the sternum is displaced and the cortical bone is broken. CT examination can clearly observe the location of the fracture and the displacement of the broken ends, and can provide an accurate diagnosis. Clinically, when patients have a history of severe chest trauma but cannot complain of chest pain, the sternum should be observed with emphasis, and MPR image reconstruction technology should be used to confirm the diagnosis if necessary. Once a misdiagnosis occurs, if the patient does not receive surgical treatment in time, it will cause long-term sternal pain and functional impairment. Complex injuries caused by severe sternal fractures can easily put the patient's life in danger. Therefore, timely and accurate diagnosis is particularly critical for clinical treatment.