Many conditions can cause pain in the sternum, including injuries, pneumonia, bronchitis, and costochondritis. Gastrointestinal problems, such as acid reflux, can cause pain behind the sternum. People ...

Your sternum is located in the middle of your chest and is also known as the breastbone. It protects the organs of your torso from injury and serves as a connection point for other bones and muscles.

To perform open heart surgery, a surgeon cuts through the sternum in a procedure known as a sternotomy. It is a major operation that involves a lengthy healing process that can take months or years.

Chest pain can be alarming, but more often than not, it’s nothing serious. Many people with chest pain describe feeling like their sternum is bruised. The sternum is more commonly called the ...