Low-virulent chronic sternal osteomyelitis in children.

Sternal osteomyelitis is a fatal and serious complication of open heart surgery. Application of current surgical techniques and the use of prophylactic antibiotherapy have reduced the sternal wound infections and the development of osteomyelitis. As a treatment, many methods have been described, from wound dressing to partial sternal resection, although complete recovery cannot be achieved without rationale and long-term antibiotherapy. In this article, we discuss the clinical approach to three pediatric cases who were diagnosed with low-virulent chronic sternal osteomyelitis.