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