Breast bone crackling after heart surgery

In open heart surgery, the sternum is usually sawed open lengthwise to allow the chest to be opened to the side and access to the organ. After completion of the heart surgery, the two halves of the sternum are rejoined and fixed with wires or clamps. The wires ensure the stability of the bone until it is firmly reunited after about six weeks.

During this time, there is still a slightly increased mobility of the sternum during breathing and movements. For this reason, cracking of the sternum may occur more frequently during the healing phase after heart surgery. However, this is completely harmless, even if it is very loud, as long as there are no other complaints such as severe pain or shortness of breath.

Associated symptoms

In most cases a cracking in the sternum is not accompanied by any symptoms. You may feel that the cracking has released a joint blockage or you may feel that a rib or clavicle has slipped back into position. If muscular tension is present, for example in the context of a cervical spine syndrome, pain in the area of the sternum or neck or back pain can occur as an accompanying symptom.

If the cracking of the sternum was preceded by an accident, for example during sports or road traffic, a bruise or bruise on the skin may be an accompanying symptom. In such a case, a doctor should be consulted to rule out the possibility of a bony injury. A medical examination is also advisable if the accompanying symptom is severe pain in the area of the ribcage that is independent of movement or shortness of breath.

Even if the cracking in the sternum itself is almost always harmless, these complaints can be an indication of an additional disease of internal organs such as the heart or lungs. Breathing difficulties can have many different causes and can also occur at the same time as a cracking in the sternum. It is possible that there is a common cause such as muscular tension.

This can impair breathing and may also be responsible for the crackling. However, it is also possible that both symptoms are independent of each other and are only noticed simultaneously by chance.The cracking at the sternum is harmless and does not indicate a threatening disease. Breathing difficulties, on the other hand, can have a variety of possible causes, and in some cases a serious illness requiring treatment. Breathing difficulties without a recognizable cause should therefore be clarified by a medical examination. In the event of a sudden shortage of air, it may even be necessary to notify the emergency medical services.