POST-RADIATION OSTEOMYELITIS OF THE STERNUM: CURRENT TREATMENT OPTIONS

Background. Post-radiation sternal osteomyelitis is a late local complication of radiation therapy for chest cancer. Due to a chronic process and low reparative capacity, the conservative therapy of post-radiation osteomyelitis of the sternum is ineffective, and often there is a need for surgery. It is a two-step surgery that includes elimination of purulent inflammation followed by plastic reconstruction of the chest wall. Materials and methods. Two clinical observations of post-radiation osteomyelitis of the sternum were presented. The vacuum therapy was applied at the stage of controlling purulent inflammation in the chest wall. Result. The use of vacuum therapy had a positive effect on the rapid cleansing of the wound. Conclusion. Application of vacuum therapy is indicated at the first stage of treatment, after debridement and after plastic phase as an additional method of stabilization of the chest wall, and in case of postoperative infectious complications.

post-radiation sternal osteomyelitis, vacuum therapy of wounds