What Do We Know about Spondylodiscitis in Children? A Retrospective Study
Ayla Yagdiran,
Charlotte Meyer-Schwickerath,
Raphael Wolpers,
Christina Otto-Lambertz,
Katrin Mehler,
Andre Oberthür,
Nikolaus Kernich,
Peer Eysel,
Norma Jung,
Kourosh Zarghooni
Affiliations
Ayla Yagdiran
Department of Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital of Cologne, University of Cologne, 50937 Cologne, Germany
Charlotte Meyer-Schwickerath
Department I of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital of Cologne, Center for Integrated Oncology, University of Cologne, 50937 Cologne, Germany
Raphael Wolpers
Department of Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital of Cologne, University of Cologne, 50937 Cologne, Germany
Christina Otto-Lambertz
Department of Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital of Cologne, University of Cologne, 50937 Cologne, Germany
Katrin Mehler
Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital of Cologne, University of Cologne, 50937 Cologne, Germany
Andre Oberthür
Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital of Cologne, University of Cologne, 50937 Cologne, Germany
Nikolaus Kernich
Department of Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital of Cologne, University of Cologne, 50937 Cologne, Germany
Peer Eysel
Department of Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital of Cologne, University of Cologne, 50937 Cologne, Germany
Norma Jung
Department I of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital of Cologne, Center for Integrated Oncology, University of Cologne, 50937 Cologne, Germany
Kourosh Zarghooni
Department of Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital of Cologne, University of Cologne, 50937 Cologne, Germany
Pediatric spondylodiscitis (PSD) is a rare disease with a major impact on mobility and functional status. Data concerning demographic and microbiological characteristics, clinical course, treatment, and outcome are scarce. Therefore, the aim of this study was to present clinical experiences of a third-level hospital (2009–2019) in PSD and compare these with adult spondylodiscitis (ASD). Of a total of 10 PSD patients, most of the infants presented with unspecific pain such as hip pain or a limping, misleading an adequate diagnosis of spine origin. Eight patients could be treated conservatively whereas surgery was performed in two cases with one case of tuberculous PSD (tPSD). The causative agent was detected in three of the patients. The diagnosis of PSD is often difficult since clinical symptoms are unspecific and causative pathogens often remain undetected. Nevertheless, empirical anti-infective therapy also seems to be effective. Based on recent studies, clinicians should be encouraged to keep the duration of anti-infective therapy in children short. Since comorbidities are not presented in PSD it is unclear which children suffer from PSD; thus, studies are necessary to identify predisposing factors for PSD. In our study, PSD differs from ASD in diagnostic and especially in therapeutic aspects. Therefore, specific guidelines for PSD would be desirable.
