Sternal Closure With Biologic Bone Cement in Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG)

Median sternotomy has been the standard incision for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in patients undergoing surgery for coronary artery disease. Given the increasing risk profile of contemporary cardiac surgery patients, sternal complications are subject to increase concomitantly. Despite advances in many areas of cardiac surgical procedures, innovation in sternal closure technique has been lacking and postoperative complications remain. In this study, the investigators aim to assess the effectiveness of using a novel osteoconductive biologic bone cement (KryptoniteTM, Doctors Research Group Inc.) as an adjunct to conventional sternal closure in post CABG patients having median sternotomy. The outcomes of interest for this study will include: pain, discomfort, lung function, wound healing and analgesic use. The investigators assume that the use of KryptoniteTM will decrease postoperative pain leading to improvement in postoperative lung function. This may also lead to improvement in patient recovery and decrease in postoperative complications. The investigators will undertake a single-blinded randomized, controlled study consisting of patients undergoing elective coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) randomly assigned to either Group A (usual closure with stainless steel wires) or Group B (usual closure with stainless steel wires plus application of bone cement). Each group will consist of 64 patients in a total of 128 patients. Lung function data using a spirometer will be collected preoperatively and 3rd and 5th postoperative days as well as in outpatient clinic. Pain data will be collected on the 1st to 5th postoperative days.