Even with advances in minimally invasive surgery, open heart surgery remains a mainstay of modern medicine. In open heart surgery, the sternum is bisected to allow access to the heart. After surgery, the two halves of the sternum are mechanically fixed with stainless steel wires or in some cases titanium or stainless steel cables and plates. These devices are left behind indefinitely and can in some cases cause patient discomfort or interfere with subsequent operations. An absorbable magnesium wire could allow for sufficient mechanical support while the sternum heals while avoiding the secondary complications of permanent materials. In this study, feasibility of a Mg sternal wire was assessed using a patent-pending LZ21 alloy wire and a simple sternal model mimic. Baseline mechanical and microstructural properties of 0.95 mm wire were established and compared to wire corroded in a modified Hank's fluid while under tension.
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