Sternal Plating High Risk Study

This study at University Hospitals is for people with heart disease who are having open heart surgery. After surgery, your breastbone (sternum) needs to be closed. Doctors currently use two methods: the SternalPlate system (rigid plates) or Wire Cerclage (wires). This study aims to compare these two techniques to see which works best. You might be able to join if you are 18 to 89 years old, are having cardiac surgery, and have certain risk factors for problems with your sternal wound, such as diabetes or severe COPD. The study will look at how well your sternum heals and how many wound complications occur, as well as the cost of your hospital stay, all measured at 6 months after surgery. The study is planning to enroll 250 participants, but the current recruitment status is unclear.

Study design
This is an interventional study comparing two methods of closing the breastbone after heart surgery: the SternalPlate system and Wire Cerclage. It plans to enroll 250 participants.
What's involved
Not specified in the trial record.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Participants will be followed for 6 months after surgery to assess sternal healing, wound complications, and hospitalization costs.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT06660186

Sternal Plating High Risk

Recruiting
NAAges 18–89InterventionalTreatment
University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center
~250 participants
Updated 2026-04-30 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Rigid Sternal FixationWire Cerclage

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Sternal healing as measured by CT scan
Measured over 6 months
+3 more outcomes measured
Heart Diseases
1 sites across 1 states
Ohio1
  • Marc Pelletier, MD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · University Hospitals
  • Rakesh Arora, MD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · University Hospitals

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Adults (age range: 18-89)
Undergoing cardiac surgery through sternotomy
≥2 risk factors:
Diabetes mellitus
Severe COPD
Chronic steroid use
Immunosuppression
Redo sternotomy
Chronic
Kidney disease with GFR \>30 ml/min per 1.73m2
Radiation therapy
BMI≥35
High-risk of delirium
Heavy alcohol use
Off-midline sternotomy
BITA grafting
CPB time ≥120 minutes
Transverse sternal fracture

Exclusion

Active malignancy
Chronic narcotic use
NYHA Class IV
Known nickel metal allergy
Compliance concern
eGFR\<30 ml/min per 1.73m2
Involvement in another interventional clinical trial (non-registry)
Any criteria precluding RPF or WC
Emergent or emergent salvage surgery
Non-standard sternotomies
Sternotomy with bony margin \<2 mm
Bleeding
Delayed sternal closure
Surgical complications
Any criteria precluding RPF or WC
  • Sternal healing as measured by CT scan6 months

    5 axial CT slices from a priori-defined anatomic locations are selected by a radiologist. Two additional radiologists then independently score each location using a 6-point scale (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5) with higher scores representing greater healing. Sternal union will be pre-specified as a mean score ≥3 (total score ≥15).

  • Number of sternal wound complications as measured by patient/physician report6 months

    Sternal wound complications will be a composite of wound dehiscence, sternal dehiscence, SSIs, and DSWIs (synonymous with deep SSIs and mediastinitis).

  • Total index hospitalization cost6 months

    Index hospitalization costs (beginning at the time of surgery and ending at initial discharge)

  • Total cost6 months

    All costs after initial discharge through 6 months