[Treatment of Sternal Osteomyelitis after Median Sternotomy in 130 Patients with Pedicled Myocutaneous Latissimus Flap].

Background: After median sternotomy in cardiac surgery, deep sternal wound infections develop in 0.8 - 8% of patients, resulting in prolonged hospital stay and increased morbidity and mortality. Our treatment strategy combines radical surgical debridement, removal of extraneous material and reconstruction of large and deep defects by a pedicled M.