Surgical repair of a chronic traumatic sternal fracture.

Chronic sternal fracture nonunion is usually reported after median sternotomy, but rarely after blunt chest trauma. Most traumatic fractures of the sternum are managed nonoperatively if they are asymptomatic and nondisplaced. Acute surgical therapy is indicated for debilitating chest pain usually associated with fracture displacement. We report a case of debilitating chest pain associated with a chronic sternal fracture. Our surgical technique is discussed and the literature is reviewed.