Question 1

what is the approximately recovery time or nonunion sternum surgery?

Accepted Answer

6 weeks : Healed skin7-  10 days
healed bone depends but 2-3 months gets most.
Discomfort dwindles with time like the original.

Question 2

i had surgery to remove a mass out of my chest in 2005, i can still feel my sternum move and pop. is this normal?

Accepted Answer

No it is not: Since it has been so long since your operation most likely your bone has healed by non union, which means that there is scar tissue there but the bone has not come together and healed properly. Rarely this can be due to chronic infection. Either way you need to see your surgeon. He or she will determine the extent of the problem and discuss treatment options, risks and benefits

Question 3

is there a minimally invasive surgery to repair torn rib ligament/cartilage so it can be reattached to sternum?

Accepted Answer

Not really: The only thing that helps is time. Eventually the torn area will repair, but it takes longer than other similar injuries because your rib cage is always in motion and can't be rested to allow healing to occur. Try icing the area for about 10 minutes at a time.

Question 4

what happens during bypass surgery? do they cut the sternum or rib cartilages?

Accepted Answer

Depends: Usually sternum is split longitudinally. For limited procedures, a couple of ribs can be cut to create a flap or window. Depends on the preference of the surgeon and the extent of the access required.

Question 5

how long after open heart surgery does it take the sternum to heal completely?

Accepted Answer

Six weeks: Six weeks if routine and no complications.

Question 6

does the sternum fuse together after open heart surgery and how long  does it take ?

Accepted Answer

Yes, like bone fract: The sternum is a bone &amp; heals like any other bone. It is "fractured" (cut) at the start of open heart surgery. At the end of surgery, the sternum is usually "sewn up" using metal wires to hold the 2 parts together. Further bone healing (fusion) occurs over the course of 3-6 months (eg, as with a broken arm). Wires hold the sternum together in that time &amp; fuse with bone as it heals. Ask surgeon.

Question 7

can mohs pain cause adhesion 5 years later that feels like "bone pain".  surgery was in sternum area, and the currently on/off pain is in same area.

Accepted Answer

Probably normal : Intermittent pain at any previous scar is a common symptom, and usually indicates nothing serious. It's probably related to that fact that some nerve endings were cut, and scar tissue formed as the body healed. If it is progressive, or severe, or you really think something is wrong, see the surgeon that did the Moh's procedure. Hope this helps!

Question 8

1st rib + scaleling surgery for ntos i thin acouple internal stitches busted is it serious? i felt a snap then warm wiggle feeling toward my sternum.

Accepted Answer

Possibly a concern: Whenever patients have complex surgery and feel an odd symptom it makes sense to get evaluated and often a ct scan is performed to make certain there are no complications evident.

Question 9

can mohs surgery in sternum area, cause what feels like intermittent bone pain in sternum 5 years later? the growth was the size of a 50 cent coin.

Accepted Answer

Not the Surgery: You need medical evaluation to rule out a number of possibilities. Expect a Chest X-Ray, possibly a CT of your chest , EKG, other Cardiac testing and lab work.

Question 10

would you still have numbness in the sternum area ten months after open heart surgery?

Accepted Answer

Possible : And perhaps forever!
the little nerves may be interfered with by the surgical dissection, or surgical closure done perfectly!
sometimes they gradually return and reinervate the area.
It is not a danger sign.

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Doctor answers about:

Sternum removal surgery

A member asked:

What is the approximately recovery time or nonunion sternum surgery?

A member asked:

I had surgery to remove a mass out of my chest in 2005, i can still feel my sternum move and pop. is this normal?

A member asked:

Is there a minimally invasive surgery to repair torn rib ligament/cartilage so it can be reattached to sternum?

A member asked:

What happens during bypass surgery? do they cut the sternum or rib cartilages?

A member asked:

How long after open heart surgery does it take the sternum to heal completely?

A member asked:

Does the sternum fuse together after open heart surgery and how long does it take ?

A member asked:

Can mohs pain cause adhesion 5 years later that feels like "bone pain". surgery was in sternum area, and the currently on/off pain is in same area.

A member asked:

1st rib + scaleling surgery for ntos i thin acouple internal stitches busted is it serious? i felt a snap then warm wiggle feeling toward my sternum.

A member asked:

Can mohs surgery in sternum area, cause what feels like intermittent bone pain in sternum 5 years later? the growth was the size of a 50 cent coin.

A member asked:

Would you still have numbness in the sternum area ten months after open heart surgery?

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