Sternal osteomyelitis and infective endocarditis after old trivial chest trauma in untreated diabetes mellitus: A case report

• Main Authors: Ibuki Kurihara, Masahiro Kashiura, Takashi Moriya, Hitoshi Sugawara
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2020-09-01
• Series: Journal of General and Family Medicine
• Subjects: chronic sternal osteomyelitis; diabetes mellitus; heart valve replacement; infective endocarditis; Staphylococcus aureus
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1002/jgf2.347

Abstract An 82‐year‐old man with untreated diabetes mellitus (DM) had anterior chest wall swelling and ulcers 2 years following blunt chest trauma. Contrast‐enhanced computed tomography revealed sternal fracture with osteolytic change and subcutaneous abscess. Blood and sternal cultures were positive for methicillin‐susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA). Transesophageal echocardiogram showed vegetation on the right coronary cusp and moderate aortic regurgitation. The patient received a diagnosis of infective endocarditis associated with chronic sternal osteomyelitis complicated by subcutaneous abscess because of MSSA. This case report showed that trivial trauma in patients with uncontrolled DM can cause chronic sternal osteomyelitis resulting in infective endocarditis.