Heart valve

Coronary artery surgeries and heart valve replacements are common procedures, and their annual numbers are rising as life expectancy increases. Sternal nonunion is a frequent complication of these operations, with advanced age, obesity, and diabetes serving as predisposing factors. When this complication occurs, the patient requires readmission, incurs additional time and expense, and may sometimes suffer morbidity and mortality—often due to surgical‐site infection. Unfortunately, its prevalence is growing, driven by widespread obesity, suboptimal dietary habits, and the increasing incidence of osteoporosis.