title: Sternal osteomyelitis after minor trauma.
abstract: Sternal osteomyelitis secondary to minor trauma occurs rarely. Only a handful of cases have been reported. A 24-year-old male patient who had history of intravenous drug abuse and recent minor sternal trauma presented with signs and symptoms of sternal infection. Imaging studies suggested osteomyelitis and the patient underwent sternal resection, with a successful outcome. Sternal osteomyelitis should be suspected in immunocompromised patients, including intravenous drug abusers presenting with sternal inflammatory symptoms. Increased awareness, rapid diagnosis, and appropriate empiric antibiotic and radical surgical treatments can successfully manage life-threatening osteomyelitis of the sternum.
authors: Department of Surgery, John D Dingell VAMC and Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201 , USA.
authors: David A
authors: DA
authors: Edelman
authors: Julian E
authors: JE
authors: Losanoff
authors: Bruce W
authors: BW
authors: Richman
authors: James W
authors: JW
authors: Jones
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000601:surgery; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D013249:Sternum / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications*; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000150:complications*; D055815:Young Adult