Wound cultures were positive in 16 patients (69.6%). Staphylococcus aureus in 7 patients (30.4%), Staphylococcus epidermidis in 5 patients (21.7%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa in 3 patients(13.0%), Acinetobacter baumannii in 1 patient (4.3%). There were no statistically significant differences in clinical characteristics between patients with and without wound culture positive(Table 3).
20 patients were treated with unilateral(right) pectoralis major muscle turnover flap,3 patients were treated by bilateral pectoralis major muscle turnover flap. All of the sternal wounds healed successfully in one stage. All patients survived and were discharged without evidence of infection.The mean hospital stay from PMMTF reconstruction was 17.1 days.
Follow-up ranged from 15 to 83 months with an average of 32.6 months. During the follow-up, there were no signs of chronic sternal infection, and all wounds healed well. All patients were between 25 to 75 percentile in their weight and height nomograms and appropriately developed for their age according to the Denver development scale[8]. In 3 patients,chest wall were mild asymmetry.There were no limitations in upper trunk or limb movements in all patients.
Table 3 comparision of clinical characteristics of wound culture negative and positive