Archives of Plastic Surgery (Sep 2020)

A multi-institutional analysis of sternoclavicular joint coverage following osteomyelitis

  • Sammy Othman,
  • Omar Elfanagely,
  • Saïd C. Azoury,
  • Geoffrey M. Kozak,
  • Jessica Cunning,
  • Arturo J. Rios-Diaz,
  • Prashanth Palvannan,
  • Patrick Greaney,
  • Matthew P. Jenkins,
  • Doraid Jarrar,
  • Stephen J. Kovach,
  • John P. Fischer

DOI
https://doi.org/10.5999/aps.2020.00717
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 47, no. 05
pp. 460 – 466

Abstract

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Background Sternoclavicular joint (SCJ) osteomyelitis is a rare pathology requiring urgent intervention. Several operative approaches have been described with conflicting reports. Here, we present a multi-institutional study utilizing multiple surgical pathways for SCJ reconstruction. Methods A multi-institutional retrospective cohort study was conducted to identify patients who underwent surgical repair for sternoclavicular osteomyelitis between 2008 and 2019. Patients were stratified according to reconstruction approach: single-stage reconstruction with advancement flap and delayed-reconstruction with flap following initial debridement. Demographics, operative approach, type of reconstruction, and postoperative outcomes were analyzed. Results Thirty-two patients were identified. Mean patient age was 56.2±13.8 years and 68.8% were male. The average body mass index (BMI) was 30.0±8.8 kg/m2. The most common infection etiologies were intravenous drug use and bacteremia (both 25%). Fourteen patients (43.8%) underwent one-stage reconstruction and 18 (56.2%) underwent delayed twostaged reconstruction. Both single and delayed-stage groups had comparable rates of reinfection (7.1% vs. 11.1%, respectively), surgical site complications (21.4% vs. 27.8%), readmissions (7.1% vs. 16.6%), and reoperations (7.1% vs. 5.6%; all P>0.05). The single-stage reconstruction group had a significantly lower BMI (26.2±5.7 kg/m2 vs. 32.9±9.1 kg/m2; P<0.05) and trended towards shorter hospital length of stay (11.3 days vs. 17.9 days; P=0.01). Conclusions Both single and delayed-stage approaches are appropriate methods with comparable outcomes for reconstruction for SCJ osteomyelitis. When clinically indicated, a single-stage reconstruction approach may be preferable in order to avoid a second operation as associated with the delayed phase, and possibly shortening total hospital length of stay.

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