title: Chronic osteomyelitis after sternotomy.
abstract: Two patients with chronic sternal osteomyelitis after an initially uncomplicated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) operation are described. Chronic osteomyelitis, caused in both cases by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, occurred six and four months after CABG respectively. Because chronic infection failed to respond to local wound care and medical therapy, more radical treatment was needed. Steel wires were removed and surgical debridement was performed. In one patient, an additional omental transposition was performed. In both cases radical debridement in combination with antibiotics successfully eradicated the infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery, University Hospital of Antwerp, Edegem, Belgium.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Thijssens
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rodrigus
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Amsel
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Moulijn
mesh_terms: D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D003646:Debridement; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D013249:Sternum / Q000601:surgery*; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*