Introduction. Sternal osteomyelitis with or without mediastinal infection is a severe and rare complication of median sternotomy. In this paper, an alternative technique for the reconstruction of sternal defects with the use of bilateral pectoralis major pedicled muscle flaps is presented. Case presentation. A 70-year-old man with the diagnosis of poststernotomy osteomyelitis underwent reconstr...

PURPOSE A retrospective study to evaluate the effect of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) therapy on sternal infection and osteomyelitis following median sternotomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective analysis of patients who received sternotomy and cardiothoracic surgery which developed sternal infection and osteomyelitis between 2002 and 2009. Twelve patients who received debridement and antibiot...

Extra-pulmonary tuberculosis constitutes 15-20% of total tuberculosis (TB) case load in immuno-competent patients. Affliction of the skeletal system is rare with still rarer presentation of sternal osteomyelitis even in endemic countries. A patient with primary sternal TB presenting with multiple cutaneous sinuses over the anterior chest wall is being reported. A high element of suspicion is ne...

We describe an exceptional case of non-fatal septic rupture of the ascending aorta in a patient with sternal dehiscence, deep sternal wound infection (DSWI) and pleural empyema after aortocoronary bypass surgery. Routine follow-up computed tomography (CT) detected a mediastinal pseudoaneurysm originating from the ascending aorta. Thereby, massive and irregular sternal bone defects and contrast-...

In India, pulmonary tuberculosis accounts for 85% of cases and extrapulmonary tuberculosis accounts for 15% of cases with bone and joint involvement is seen in 1 to 3% of cases. Primary tuberculous osteomyelitis of the sternum is a rare form of extrapulmonary tuberculosis. A 51-year-old male presented with 10 years history of swelling over the anterior chest wall and pain for past 6 months. Fin...

during a 30-month period. 2s patients with deep infected median sternotomy wounds were managed surgically. fifteen patients had chronic sternal osteomyelitis with associated costochondruis, 7 patients had only costochondritis, and 3 patients had dehiscence and/or mediastinitis. twenty were male and 5 were female their ages rangedfrom 11 to 71 years. nine patients had 11 failed previous attempts...