INFECTIOUS SPONDYLODISCITIS: INCIDENCE IN A SPECIFIC HEALTCARE AREA (2000–2008)

Abstract

Introduction and Objectives: Given the increase in incidence of some pathological conditions in the musculoskeletal system, we proposed carrying out an observational study on the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of infectious spondylodiscitis (IS) diagnosed in our sanitary area over the last 8 years.

Materials and Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of the clinical histories of patients with tuberculosis infectious spondylodiscitis and spondylodiscitis due to other causes diagnosed between January 2000 and December 2008. We included those cases in which a compatible clinical and radiological picture associated with isolation of the microorganism in hemoculture or in material taken from the focus of the spondyle. We also considered there was a proven diagnosis of spondylodiscitis if there were typical caseified granulomas in vertebral biopsies or concomitant extravertebral foci.

Results: We found 14 spondylodiscites due to other causes and 5 spondylodiscites due to tuberculosis. All spondylodiscites due to other causes were caused by monobacterial infections except one, and the most frequent microorganism found was Staphylococcus aureus (5) followed by S. epidermidis (3) and E. coli (3). The spondylodiscites due to tuberculosis required more interventions to decompress and/or drain paravertebral abscesses and had more neurological sequelae.

Discussion and Conclusions: Infectious spondylodiscitis is more frequent and predominates in the low dorsal and lumbar spine segments. During the last decade there has been a notable increase in spondylodiscitis due to other causes, with a significant amount in relation to invasive procedures. Infectious spondylodiscitis takes longer to diagnose and are associated with a greater prevalence of sequelae. Some of the possible complications are paravertebral abscesses and vertebral compression.