References
Radical sternectomy for osteomyelitis without reconstruction post-coronary artery bypass graft: 10 years on
Abstract
Radical sternectomy with sternal reconstruction using synthetic mesh or titanium plates has been described before with excellent results. However, radical removal of the sternum without reconstruction is a rare surgical treatment for complicated deep sternal wound infections (DSWI). The long-term outcome following this radical operation is not well-known due to the limited number of cases in the literature. We report on a patient 10 years after a radical sternectomy for DSWI who presented with shortness of breath. We highlight some of the anatomical and physiological changes the chest cavity may undergo and the fact that this patient had a near normal quality of life in the 10 years following the sternectomy.
In 2014, we reported on a case of late presentation of a deep sternal wound infection (DSWI) that was treated with total sternectomy and removal of all associated costal cartilages.1 The patient had extensive sternal osteomyelitis and breast abscesses, requiring a prolonged hospital stay and antibiotic treatment, which precluded sternal reconstruction with mesh or titanium plates. The long-term outcome of patients who have had radical sternal removal, without reconstruction, for osteomyelitis is largely unknown due to the sporadic nature of this radical treatment for DSWI. We wish to further report on this patient 10 years following radical sternectomy for osteomyelitis of the sternum to highlight some of the anatomical and physiological changes that the patient has undergone.
The patient gave written informed consent for the use of information and imaging; the form is available on reasonable request. No institutional review board approval is required for case reports at our institution.
Register now to continue reading
Thank you for visiting Journal of Wound Care's Silk Road Supplement and reading some of our peer-reviewed resources for healthcare professionals across Asia. To read more, please register today.