Sternoclavicular osteomyelitis: a new complication of misplaced tracheostomy tube

Abstract

We report a patient who presented with erythema and swelling over the chest and neck several days after the placement of a tracheostomy tube. Sternoclavicular osteomyelitis and anterior mediastinal abscess occurred, as complications of inadvertent pretracheal tracheostomy tube placement, which were treated with right sternoclavicular resection and mediastinal drainage.