Comparison of polyetheretherketone cables and stainless steel wires for sternal fixation after median sternotomy

OBJECTIVE: To compare the sternal fixation effect of a polyetheretherketone (PEEK) cable product and stainless steel wire after median sternotomy. METHODS: A multicentre retrospective clinical trial was conducted in patients that underwent median sternotomy for a range of surgical reasons. The sternum was fixed using PEEK sternal cables in the experimental group and stainless steel wires in the control group. The general patient state, product manoeuvrability, bone and wound healing state and blood test results were evaluated at seven visits during the preoperative, surgical and follow-up periods. RESULTS: A total of 108 patients (54 in each group) were included in the analysis at the final 180-day follow-up. The sternum was successfully closed using PEEK cables or steel wires in all patients and all healed well. No pathological changes were found on the X-ray imaging. Computed tomography imaging confirmed ideal fracture healing. No significant difference was found between the experimental group and the control group in outcomes. CONCLUSION: PEEK cables are easy to implant and show desirable effectiveness in sternal fixation without any observed side-effects.