ABSTRACT

Nukala N, Rao R, Nemeth D, Badam M. Hyperbaric Oxygenation Therapy as Adjunctive Treatment of Complex Wound Associated with Sterno-clavicular Septic Arthritis. Undersea Hyperb Med. 2025 Third Quarter; 52(3):279-282.

Introduction: Sternoclavicular septic arthritis with pyomyositis is a relatively rare condition. While most cases of septic arthritis are caused by gram-positive organisms, such as Staphylococci and Streptococci spp., a small number of patients present with gram-negative organisms as the cause of their condition. Signs and symptoms can be non-specific, and although CT imaging aids in diagnosis, a timely identification relies primarily on a high index of clinical suspicion.

Case Description: We present a case of a 44-year-old female patient with a history of poorly controlled diabetes mellitus who presented with a chronic, non-healing wound that developed on a background of non-traumatic sternoclavicular septic arthritis, chronic osteomyelitis of the clavicle and manubrium, and concomitant pectoralis pyomyositis caused by a gram-negative pathogen. The use of HBO2 as an addition to this patient’s treatment regimen hastened the healing process.

Conclusion: Given the rarity of this condition, we consider that adding to the body of literature with regards to the diagnosis and treatment of this condition can help clinicians develop a keen eye for it, decreasing the morbidity and mortality associated with it.

Keywords: hyperbaric oxygen therapy; manubrial osteomyelitis; pectoralis pyomyositis; sternoclavicular septic arthritis; wound care; wound healing