Delayed postoperative spondylodiscitis in a case of diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis following surgical intervention for traumatic C7-T1 bifacetal dislocation

Abstract

Postoperative spinal infections are on the rise owing to the ever-increasing number of spine surgeries. Spinal instrumentation is associated with an infection rate of 2%–8%. Both surgical and patient factors have been associated with infection. Delayed cases of postoperative infection are mostly related to patient-related factors and can be easily missed as they lack the classic clinical and systemic features. However, if left unidentified, progressive involvement of contiguous levels would result in collapse, instability, deformity, and instrumentation failure. A high index of suspicion is to be maintained, and higher imaging options such as magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography should be used judiciously so as to diagnose infection at the earliest. We herein describe the background history, clinical features, imaging characteristics, and successful management of infective spondylodiscitis following instrumentation in a narrative manner. Relevant literature and management options have also been discussed.

Keywords

• delayed postoperative spondylodiscitis
• infective spondylodiscitis
• surgical-site infection