Colocutaneous fistula as a consequence of titanium implant migration following sternal chondrosarcoma resection: a...

Sternal chondrosarcoma is a rare malignancy requiring wide resection and chest wall reconstruction, typically using titanium implants. These implants may rarely lead to late migration. We report a 72-year-old male who presented with a colocutaneous fistula in 2026, 10 years after total sternectomy and titanium reconstruction for low-grade chondrosarcoma. He remained asymptomatic for 4 years, then developed skin erythema at the inferior edge of the surgical scar, which progressed to fecal discharge but delayed consultation for 4 years due to absence of systemic symptoms. Computed tomography showed migration of the titanium implant. Management included implant removal, extended right hemicolectomy, and ileo-transverse anastomosis. The chest wall was stabilized with a thoracic corset. This case demonstrates the need for prolonged clinical and radiological vigilance for late mechanical failure in long-term survivors of low-grade sternal tumors, emphasizing that subtle skin changes over the prosthesis should prompt early cross-sectional imaging to prevent severe visceral complications.