Successful surgical treatment of traumatic sternal fracture with extensive mediastinal abscess and concomitant mitral valve endocarditis: a case report

BACKGROUND: A traumatic sternal fracture with extensive mediastinal abscess and concomitant native valve endocarditis is an extremely rare but catastrophic situation. CASE PRESENTATION: For 2 weeks, the co-infected patient was treated with aggressive debridement for the mediastinitis, change of vacuum-assisted closure therapy dressings, vegetectomy and valve repair through lower partial sternotomy, and delayed primary wound closure. CONCLUSIONS: To the best of our knowledge, this successful staged strategy has not been previously reported. We believe that our quick decision about repeated surgical interventions and preservation of the manubrium led to a favorable result.