The sternocleidomastoid flap for treatment of a septic sternum defect

After sternotomy for prosthetic repair of the ascending aorta and replacement of the aortic valve with a bioprosthesis in a 70-year-old woman local wound infection developed. Preliminary conservative treatment did not succeed. Because of the high risk for the patient due to local infection and partial exposure of the aortic prosthesis there was an indication for local flap surgery. Both healing of the infection and covering the prosthesis was achieved using a sternocleidomastoideus muscle flap.