Complete cleft sternum and congenital heart disease: Review of the literature (original) (raw)

Cleft sternum is a rare malformation characterized by the failure of sternal fusion, and is often associated with severe intrathoracic anomalies leading to high neonatal mortality rates. A literature review of 35 cases reveals that isolated complete cleft sternum is infrequently linked with congenital cardiac defects, displaying an incidence of approximately 8%. A specific case is documented involving a newborn male with complete cleft sternum and a novel association of congenital heart disease, including double outlet right ventricle (DORV) and a large ventricular septal defect (VSD). Surgical repair timing is critical for improving prognosis, drawing attention to the complexities of embryonic development and potential hereditary influences on sternal fusion.