Chronic Recurrent Osteomyelitis of Ribs Due to Bamboo Stick Injury in an Adult Man: A Case Report

Introduction: Chronic osteomyelitis of the ribs in adolescents and adults is a rare condition. Current understanding of its diagnosis and management is primarily derived from case reports and small series studies. Here, we present a case of chronic rib osteomyelitis initially managed conservatively with antibiotics, followed by debridement, sequestrectomy, and continued antibiotic therapy. However, due to recurrence, rib excision was ultimately chosen as the definitive management approach. Case Report: A 18-year-old male presents with a discharging sinus from the chest persisting for 6 months, with no history of fever, shivering, or weight loss. He sustained a blunt injury to the chest with a bamboo stick 9 months ago. Initially, the patient was treated with antibiotics, but there was no relief. He was later operated on with debridement, sequestrectomy, and antibiotics. Six weeks later, he again presented to us with a discharging sinus. Due to recurrence, he underwent re-operation with partial resection of the 6th rib. At the 1-year follow-up after rib excision, the patient is doing well, with all blood parameters within the normal range and without any systemic or local complications. Conclusion: Rib osteomyelitis is a rare complication of blunt chest trauma. Surgical management is indicated in cases of persistent infection. Sequestrectomy and antibiotics, though standard procedures in chronic osteomyelitis, may encounter failure due to various factors. Moreover, due to limited literature on chronic osteomyelitis of ribs, the standard approach to its management is not available. Partial excision of the rib with appropriate antibiotics in our case provided complete cure for the patient. Keywords: Recurrent osteomyelitis, ribs, bamboo stick injury, blunt trauma, rib excision.