A patient with a broken sternum is a sternal fracture. Clinically, most patients with sternal fractures can be treated conservatively without surgery and require local fixation with a brace to prevent secondary dislocation of the fracture site and to effectively protect the lungs from hemothorax and pneumothorax. If a patient has a sternal fracture with significant dislocation, a large deformity in appearance, and pneumothorax symptoms, surgical treatment is required and should be performed urgently with surgical incision and internal fixation.