Platelet rich plasma in the treatment of deep sternal wound infection: case report and literature review

Objective To investigate the effect of platelet rich plasma in the treatment of sternal wound infection after sternotomy. Methods One case of deep sternal wound infection was reported which had been successfully treated with platelet rich plasma and related literatures with "sternal wound infection, sternal infection, mediastinitis, mediastinal infection, sternotomy, thoracic surgery and platelet rich plasma" were reviewed as searching terms in CNKI, Wanfang Data and PubMed. Results A 60 year-old female patient was admitted because of sternal wound remaining nonunion for 3 weeks after median sternotomy and was diagnosised as deep sternal wound infection. The wound was treated with platelet rich plasma and healed within 6 weeks accompanied by totally sternal closure. Five literatures with respect to platelet rich plasma in treatment for sternal wound infection were retrieved and prompts platelet rich plasma maybe an effective method for sternal wound infection. Conclusions Platelet rich plasma is an alternative treatment for sternal wound infection and it is essential to make further study and investigation. Key words: Platelet rich plasma; Sternal wound infection; Sternotomy; Sternal osteomyelitis