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A member asked:

When a breastbone is cracked open during open heart surgery, does it ever grow back together?

2 doctors weighed in across 2 answers
Dr. Payam Mehranpour answered

Specializes in Internal Medicine - Cardiology

Yes: The halves of the sternum are kept together using wires and after a while, just like any other bone will heal.

Answered 1/24/2020

4.9k views

Thank
Dr. Jon Spiers answered

Specializes in Thoracic Surgery

Yes: Like any broken bone, the sternum can heal. It can also fail to heal, leaving one with a mobile chest wall. That is, fortunately, a lot less likely.

Answered 1/24/2020

4.9k views

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