Primary osteomyelitis of sternum

Primary osteomyelitis of the sternum is rare, especially in young adults. A 16-year-old boy was admitted to the orthopaedic department with chest pain and fever. The blood culture was positive for Staphylococcus aureus. MRI revealed a retrosternal abcess; a bone scan showed increased local uptake, suggestive of isolated osteomyelitis. Two weeks after the start of treatment with flucloxacillin 1 g 6 times a day i.v. the patient's condition had significantly improved: the pain had subsided and the fever had disappeared. In sternal osteomyelitis early treatment with antibiotics is successful and avoids complications and surgical intervention.