title: Bilateral clavicle osteomyelitis: A case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Osteomyelitis of the clavicle is rare. Infection occurs from hematogenous spread or trauma. In adults infection is usually secondary due to an exogenous cause such as open fractures, surgery (iatrogenic) or spread from local tissue with infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  The case is presented here of a 50-year old female with bilateral clavicular fractures, who was operated on with open reduction and internal fixation. At the 6-month follow-up, she had complaints of bilateral osteomyelitis which was successfully treated with resection of the infected segment of the bone, and antibiotic impregnated collagen.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Predisposing factors include diabetes, intravenous drug abuse, tuberculosis or immune suppression. Management involves the removal of bone fixation, debridement of the bone and if there is a defect, coverage with a muscle flap is applied.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In cases of clavicular osteomyelitis where infection continues despite debridement and antibiotic therapy, excision of the sequestered clavicular section is a successful treatment approach and has been seen to improve quality of life without any functional loss.
authors.affiliation: Dr. Lütfi Kırdar Kartal Training and Research Hospital, Kartal, İstanbul 34890, Turkey. Electronic address: fvzisaglam@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Fevzi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Saglam
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Dr. Lütfi Kırdar Kartal Training and Research Hospital, Kartal, İstanbul 34890, Turkey. Electronic address: symnrtprkl@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Seymanur
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saglam
authors.affiliation: Dr. Lütfi Kırdar Kartal Training and Research Hospital, Kartal, İstanbul 34890, Turkey. Electronic address: dgulabi@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Deniz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gulabi
authors.affiliation: Dr. Lütfi Kırdar Kartal Training and Research Hospital, Kartal, İstanbul 34890, Turkey. Electronic address: engineceviz@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Engin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Eceviz
authors.affiliation: Dr. Lütfi Kırdar Kartal Training and Research Hospital, Kartal, İstanbul 34890, Turkey. Electronic address: nelmali@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Nurzat
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Elmali
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Dr. Lütfi Kırdar Kartal Training and Research Hospital, Kartal, İstanbul 34890, Turkey. Electronic address: drmustafayilmaz29@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
keywords: Clavicle infection; Clavicle osteomyelitis; Osteomyelitis