Thoracic Infectious Spondylitis After Surgical Treatments of Herniated Lumbar Intervertebral Disc.
10.5535/arm.2013.37.5.725
- Author:
Jin Hyun KIM
1
;
Jung Il KANG
;
Min Jeong KIM
;
Seong Eun KOH
;
Jongmin LEE
;
In Sik LEE
;
Heeyoune JUNG
Author Information
1. Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Konkuk University Medical Center, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. kohse@kuh.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords:
Spondylitis;
Intervertebral disc displacement;
Spinal cord compression
- MeSH:
Adult;
Anti-Bacterial Agents;
Bone Marrow;
Decompression, Surgical;
Fever;
Humans;
Intervertebral Disc Displacement;
Intervertebral Disc*;
Lower Extremity;
Magnetic Resonance Imaging;
Male;
Muscles;
Paraplegia;
Spinal Cord Compression;
Spondylitis*
- From:Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine
2013;37(5):725-729
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
The postoperative infectious spondylitis has been reported to occur among every 1% to 12%. It is difficult to early diagnose in some cases. If the diagnosis is delayed, it can be a life-threatening condition. We report a 32-year-old male patient with postoperative infectious spondylitis. He had surgical treatments for traumatic intervertebral disc herniations in L3-4 and L4-5. Three weeks after surgery, he complained for fever and paraplegia. Cervicothoracic magnetic resonance imaging showed the collapsed T2 and T3 vertebral body with changes of bone marrow signal intensity. Moreover, it showed anterior and posterior epidural masses causing spinal cord compressions which suggested infectious spondylitis. After the use of antibiotics and surgical decompressions T2-T3, his general conditions were improved and muscle power of lower extremities began to be gradually restored. However, we could not identify the exact organisms that may be the cause of infectious spondylitis. It could be important that the infectious spondylitis, which is presented away from the primary operative level, should be observed in patients with fevers of unknown origin and paraplegia.
