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Study Comparing Steel Wire to a Flat, Braided Suture to Close the Breastbone

Randomized, Single Blinded Pilot Study of Stainless Steel Wire Cerclage Versus FiberTape® Cerclage

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT04743895
Enrollment
34
Registered
2021-02-08
Start date
2021-01-04
Completion date
2022-05-06
Last updated
2022-06-21

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Sternotomy

Brief summary

This pilot study is prospective, randomized, single-blinded, single-center for adult patients undergoing sternotomy closure after cardiac surgery. The clinical, patient-reported, and imaging outcomes will be measured comparing standard stainless steel wire (SSW) cerclage versus the FiberTape cerclage.

Detailed description

The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the progression of sternal healing in subjects that underwent midline sternal closure with FiberTape cerclage compared to subjects that underwent midline sternal closure with stainless steel wire. The secondary objectives are to evaluate the complication rate and postoperative pain of subjects that underwent midline sternal closure with FiberTape cerclage compared to subjects that underwent midline sternal closure with stainless steel wire. CT scans are performed at three months postoperatively to assess sternal healing. Two radiologists will read all CT scans. Axial slices are analyzed at five locations along the sternum (manubrium, top of the aortic arch, aortopulmonary window, main pulmonary arteries, and aortic root) using a 6-point quantitative scale (0=no sign of healing, 1=minimal healing, 2=mild healing, 3=moderate healing, 4=partial synthesis, 5=complete synthesis). All adverse events related to the sternal closure procedure or the devices used for closure will be collected. Postoperative pain scores will be collected using a 10 cm visual analog scale (VAS) with a numeric rating of 0 to 10. Sternal pain will be rated at rest, coughing, and with movement. Postoperative analgesic use for sternal closure pain will be evaluated.The Veterans Rand (VR-12) health survey will be collected postoperatively (see schedule of events for details).

Interventions

DEVICEStainless Steel Wire Cerclage

Wire cerclage used to close sternum after cardiothoracic surgery.

Sponsors

Arthrex, Inc.
Lead SponsorINDUSTRY

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Outcomes Assessor)

Masking description

Participant is blinded to study treatment and radiographers that assess CT scans are also blinded.

Intervention model description

Randomized, Single Blinded Study

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

1. The subject is age 18 or over. 2. The subject has a planned full median sternotomy. 3. The subject has the ability to read, understand and sign the written informed consent document and complete the online surveys.

Exclusion criteria

1. The subject is having a re-operative sternotomy. 2. The subject is having an emergency or salvage operation. 3. The subject has an unplanned sternotomy incision. 4. The subject had an incomplete sternotomy. 5. The subject has chronic pain syndromes or chronic narcotic administration. 6. The subject has a history of chest irradiation. 7. The subject is unwilling to comply with study follow-up visits and surveys. 8. The subject has a sternal infection or suspected sternal infection. 9. The subject has any known comorbidity that will influence the outcomes. 10. The subject is considered vulnerable (i.e. prisoner, child, pregnant, handicapped, or mentally disabled person).

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Progression of sternal healing3 months post-operativeA CT scan will be used to assess sternal healing. Axial slices will be analyzed at 5 locations along the sternum using a 6 point quantitative scale. (0-no healing, 1- minimal healing, 2-mild healing, 3-moderate healing, 4-partial synthesis, 5-complete synthesis).

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Complication rateCollected at Immediate post-operatively, again at 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 monthsDevice related adverse event collection
Visual Analog Scale (VAS)Immediate post-operatively, 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 monthsPatient reported pain scale using a 10 cm scale with a numeric rating of 0 to 10, with 0 being no pain to 10 being worst pain.
Veteran's Rand Health SurveyImmediate post-operatively, 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 monthsPatient reported physical and mental health survey. Answers are summarized into 2 scores, a physical component score (PCS) and a mental component score (MCS). The scores may be reported as Z-scores (difference compared to the population average, measured in standard deviations). The United States population average PCS and MCS are both 50 points. The United States population standard deviation is 10 points. Therefore, each increment of 10 points above or below 50 corresponds to one standard deviation away from the population average.
Analgesic medication LogCollected at immediate post-operatively during hospital stay, again at 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months and 6 months.Analgesic use for sternal pain will be collected on a medication log, tracking type of pain medication, dose and start and ends dates.

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026