Sternal cleft

{{Infobox medical condition (new)

| name = Sternal cleft

| synonyms = Sternum bifidum{{cite web |last1=RESERVED |first1=INSERM US14-- ALL RIGHTS |title=Orphanet: Sternal cleft |url=https://www.orpha.net/consor/cgi-bin/OC_Exp.php?lng=en&Expert=2017 |website=www.orpha.net |access-date=17 March 2019 |language=en}}

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Sternal clefts are rare congenital malformations that result from defective embryologic fusion of paired mesodermal bands in the ventral midline.{{cite book |author=Rapini, Ronald P. |author2=Bolognia, Jean L. |author3=Jorizzo, Joseph L. |title=Dermatology: 2-Volume Set |publisher=Mosby |location=St. Louis |year=2007 |isbn=978-1-4160-2999-1 }} They may be associated with other midline defects (as in pentalogy of Cantrell). It may also occur in isolation.{{cite journal|last1=Zamfir|first1=Corina|title=Sternal cleft – A rare congenital malformation|journal=Journal of Pediatric Surgery Case Reports|volume=2|issue=3|pages=97–100|doi=10.1016/j.epsc.2014.01.012|year=2014|doi-access=free}} Sternal cleft is treated by surgery in early life to avoid fixation leading to immobility.