Musculoskeletal and neurological complications following coronary artery bypass graft surgery: A comparison between saphenous vein and internal mammary artery grafting

The internal (thoracic) mammary artery (IMA) is currently the vessel of choice for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), due to its long term patency. The purpose of this study was to compare the incidence and nature of musculoskeletal and neurological complications following saphenous vein grafting (SVG) and internal mammary artery grafting (IMAG). Ninety-seven patients were screened by a physiotherapist for musculoskeletal and neurological complications three to six weeks following cardiac surgery. The incidence of new musculoskeletal and neurological complications was significantly higher in patients following IMAG (78.5 per cent) than SVG (45 per cent) (p < 0.001, chi((1))(2) = 17.04). A significant association between musculoskeletal complications affecting the anterior chest and harvesting of the IMA was also demonstrated.