Life-threatening clavicular osteomyelitis in two debilitated patients

Two cases are presented of immunologically compromised patients who developed acute pyogenic clavicular osteomyelitis from direct spread of a contiguous focus. Each patient's condition declined despite antibiotic therapy drainage procedures until survival was in doubt. Both showed striking reversal of their conditions and recovery when an aggressive surgical debridement (total claviculectomy) was performed. Acute pyogenic osteomyelitis of the clavicle is uncommon and rarely reported. The special implications in our patients of this disease of the adapted therapy are discussed.