Hyperbaric Oxygenation Therapy as Adjunctive Treatment of Complex Wound Associated with Sterno-clavicular Septic...

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Orthopedic Surgery
• Dermatology

Background:

• Sternoclavicular septic arthritis with pyomyositis is a rare condition.
• Gram-negative organisms are an uncommon cause of septic arthritis.
• Non-specific signs and symptoms necessitate a high clinical suspicion for diagnosis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a unique case of sternoclavicular septic arthritis with pyomyositis caused by a gram-negative pathogen.
• To highlight the role of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO₂) in managing complex infections.
• To contribute to the literature on diagnosing and treating this rare condition.

Main Methods:

• Case presentation of a 44-year-old female with diabetes mellitus.
• Diagnosis involved sternoclavicular septic arthritis, chronic osteomyelitis, and pectoralis pyomyositis.
• Treatment included standard care and adjunctive hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO₂).

Main Results:

• The patient presented with a chronic, non-healing wound.
• The infection was caused by a gram-negative pathogen.
• Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO₂) accelerated the healing process.

Conclusions:

• This case underscores the importance of clinical suspicion in diagnosing rare sternoclavicular septic arthritis with pyomyositis.
• Adjunctive hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO₂) can be beneficial in managing such complex infections.
• Further literature on this condition can improve clinical recognition and patient outcomes.