Radical sternectomy for osteomyelitis without reconstruction post-coronary artery bypass graft: 10 years on

Radical sternectomy with sternal reconstruction using synthetic mesh or titanium plates has been described before with excellent results. However, radical removal of the sternum without reconstruction is a rare surgical treatment for complicated deep sternal wound infections (DSWI). The long-term outcome following this radical operation is not well-known due to the limited number of cases in the literature. We report on a patient 10 years after a radical sternectomy for DSWI who presented with shortness of breath. We highlight some of the anatomical and physiological changes the chest cavity may undergo and the fact that this patient had a near normal quality of life in the 10 years following the sternectomy.