OBJECTIVES Various methods for sternal approximation have been described previously. Some patients undergoing these procedures are at risk for sternal dehiscence and mediastinitis. We used a different method, with a suture anchor system, for median sternotomy closure as an alternate technique in patients with a high risk of postoperative sternal dehiscence and sternal nonunion. MATERIAL AND M...

Older adults are predisposed to osteomyelitis either because of an increased incidence of associated disorders (e.g., peripheral vascular disease, diabetes mellitus, malnutrition and poor dentition) or because of surgical procedures that are frequently performed in the elderly population (e.g., dental extractions, open-heart surgery, and prosthetic joint replacement or osteosynthesis). Two type...

We describe a challenging case of patient with metallo-beta-lactamase-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa sternal osteomyelitis following aortic valve replacement biological prosthesis. The strain exhibited multidrug-resistance phenotype carrying the blaVIM-1 gene and belonged to high-risk clone sequence type ST235. was successfully treated surgical debridement plus antibiotic therapy ceftazidime/...

In one case of sternal metastasis associated with necrotic osteomyelitis from breast carcinoma we performed subtotal sternotomy including adjacent structures. The resulting defect over the pericardium was reconstructed by the fibula, ribs and a myocutaneous flap of the latissimus dorsi muscle for protection and stability of the anterior chest wall after the operation. The usefulness of the myoc...