Oluseun Olufade, MD, is an Orthopedic Surgeon and Assistant Professor of Orthopedics at the Emory School of Medicine. The sternum protects your heart and lungs by acting as a shield in your chest.

Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) introduced a customizable, 3D-printed sternum-and-rib implant for patients that need a part of their ribcage replaced.

Sternum pain can have many causes, including joint strains, muscle injury, and acid reflux. Chest pains can also be a symptom of a heart attack, and you should not ignore them. Your sternum, or ...