Kryptonite bone cement for sternum closure
Kryptonite bone cement for sternum closure
Hi Daiva,
and Greg thanks for the heads up on this thread for discussion on sternum closure options.
Yes I was the 1st patient in our hospital facility and region to receive Kryptonite bone cement/glue for sternum closure.
I had read about the glue and could not find any downside to the bone cement. So in pre surgery meeting with the surgeon, I requested surgeon's opinion on cement use for sternum closure. My surgeon was very aware of the product and already curious about cement as an alternative to talons, which he sometimes uses as well. So with a 2 minute discussion, surgeon felt that i did not need it (few require it he says), but he was curious enough and willing enough to try. From his perpective, wondering whether the procedural change of cement may benefit some patients, sometimes. The surgeon indicated that he would receive the training and be ready for use of the cement by my surgery time and it really was not a hard sell to my surgeon (mine is also a teaching hospital) and may be open to continous change and improvement.
My recovery from surgery was very smooth and happened in weeks and I do not remember any fragility in my chest. I required no pain meds beyond 4th day after surgery. That being said i only slept (dozed) on by back for 1st 2 weeks or so, but did sleep on my side in about the 3rd week post op and on stomach about 4 weeks pos op.
For the patient, once again, i see no downside to closure with cement. Am a little dismayed that many surgeons may be reticent to try the product and are using the "clinical trials" excuse to dismiss trying the cement with their patients.
It is possible that cementing the sternum bone, may add some time and complexity for the surgical team as i understand it sets very quickly. For the medical team, it also needs some training and it seems that a special blade is required, if they need to reopen (but how often does that happen?), so maybe the pushback from surgeon is change management, some requirement for retraining. , a few special tools and I understand a cost of about $500 for the product?
It is my understanding that the bone cement is non allergenic and has been used in cementing bone for quite some time. Use of cement for sternum closure is rather recent, < 2 years and it was originally piloted for sternum by a team in Calgary Alberta.
I had read pre-surgery about OHS patients having mutiple surgeries and they thought that the recovery was faster from OHS with the use of Kryptonite.
My recovery did seem to be exceptional in comparison to the group of OHS individuals that were done in the same period, so maybe my quick recovery was a fluke, but maybe the Kryptonite helped. I feel that the Kryptonite was an insurance product that I would happily "buy again", if given the choice in my next surgery.
DebbyA is abolutety right that for most of us, whatever the surgical team and methods, that discomfort is temporary and recovery is amazingly fast, considering the severity of OHS. I still remember well, walking into my cardiologist office 8 days post op, where the medical team could not believe that i had had the surgery, from my appearance and continance.
All the best with your upcoming OHS and wishing u a speedy and uneventful recovery.
I have a new model St-Jude AVR prosthetic, as well as the bone cement. Am now 9 months post op and all is well. Time will tell on whether I will need to redo this odyssee in my lifetime, but if need be so be it. all good.
Gil
