Cable ties for chest closure: ZipFix or ZipFail?

We read with great interest the randomized clinical trial (RCT) conducted by Marasco and colleagues comparing ZIPFIX (DePuy Synthes CMF, West Chester, Pa), a polymer cable tie system, with traditional wire cerclage in primary sternal closure after cardiac surgery in 118 patients.1 The authors reported no difference in postoperative pain (the primary outcome) despite more movement on ultrasonographic examination (the secondary outcome) in the ZipFix group. The authors conclude that ZIPFIX provides a reliable closure without any demonstrable benefit compared with wires.
Source: The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery - Category: Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery Authors: Tags: Adult: Sternal Closure: Letter to the Editor Source Type: research