Sternoclavicular joint osteomyelitis; delayed bone resection with muscle flap: A case report

Sternoclavicular joint (SCJ) osteomyelitis is a very rare condition. Here, we report an uncommon case of a complicated SCJ osteomyelitis in a patient with an anterior chest wall trauma.

A 61-year-old male a known case of dyslipidemia, hypertension (HTN), and type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The patient presented with pain and erythema over the right SCJ following trauma to the same location. Two weeks later, the patient presented with erythematous swelling with a sinus discharging pus, although he was discharged on oral antibiotics, analgesics, and had underwent an incisional drainage. Computerized Tomography (CT) of the chest showed fluid collection surrounding the right SCJ together with joint effusion suggestive of SCJ osteomyelitis. The patient underwent initial debridement and a definitive bone resection with pectoralis muscle flap two weeks following. Five months later, the patient was seen in the outpatient clinic, the wound was completely healed, and he has a normal function of the right arm.

The management of SCJ osteomyelitis is not well established, yet it can be approached medically, surgically, or both.

Surgical intervention is indicated in cases of SCJ osteomyelitis after the failure of antibiotic therapy trial. This is especially the case in the presence of abscess and bone destruction. SCJ debridement followed by delayed resection and pectoralis muscle flap might offer better results than merely debridement alone or with resection of the joint.