[Closure of median sternotomy with resorbable synthetic sutures].

To date, the refixation of the bone halves after median sternotomy is accomplished with wire, steel bands or thick, not absorbable plastic threads. As the first, we used absorbable synthetic strings in 25 patients. During the absorbtion the development of a very strong bone scar was possible, because the absorbtion lasted very long. The refixation of the sternum in cases of aseptic instability was even possible. So we think to have found another range of application for absorbable synthetic material which recently has been used more and more in several parts of operative medicine, even in hard burdened connective tissue.