Attachment Issues: A Case Report of a Promising Sternal Implantation with 3D-printed Polyethylene

Abstract

Summary:. Sternal reconstruction is beneficial for chest wall stability, respiratory function, and cosmetics, with no superior prosthesis or method thus far identified. We present a case of sternal reconstruction in a patient 6 years post sternal removal using a 3D-printed, patient-specific, polyethylene prosthesis with reasonable short-term outcomes. We believe a polyethylene prosthesis shows advantages over other materials and is worth further investigation, providing a technique for attaching said prosthesis to the native tissues is established.