Surgical Repair Of A Sternal Cleft Malformation

Abstract

Sternal cleft is a unique congenital chest wall malformation that results from failure of sternal fusion early in the embryological development. Surgical correction is advised both to protect mediastinal structures and to restore respiratory dynamics. Early surgical correction, preferably in the neonatal period, is recommended in order to benefit from the elasticity of the thoracic cage. In this article, we present a two-month-old female patient with a superior V-shaped sternal cleft, which was successfully corrected with posterior periosteal flap, sliding chondroplasty and cartilage graft interposition techniques.