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Review
. 2012 Feb;36(2):397-404.
doi: 10.1007/s00264-011-1384-6. Epub 2011 Oct 28.

Pyogenic spondylitis

W Y Cheung  1 , Keith D K Luk
Affiliations
Review

Pyogenic spondylitis

W Y Cheung et al. Int Orthop. 2012 Feb.

Abstract

Pyogenic spondylitis is a neurological and life threatening condition. It encompasses a broad range of clinical entities, including pyogenic spondylodiscitis, septic discitis, vertebral osteomyelitis, and epidural abscess. The incidence though low appears to be on the rise. The diagnosis is based on clinical, radiological, blood and tissue cultures and histopathological findings. Most of the cases can be treated non-operatively. Surgical treatment is required in 10-20% of patients. Anterior decompression, debridement and fusion are generally recommended and instrumentation is acceptable after good surgical debridement with postoperative antibiotic cover.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
a Naso-pharyngeal mucosal defect after radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma. b Contrast MRI showed upper cervical spine infection
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
T6/7 pyogenic spondylodiscitis with inter-vertebral disc and end-plates destruction and kyphosis
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
a T1-weighted image. b T2-weighted image. c T1 weighted with contrast image on a patient showing features of pyogenic spondylitis at L4/5 with epidural abscess
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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