Coluna/Columna (Dec 2014)

Infectious spondylodiscitis: has there been any evolution in the diagnostic and treatment outcomes?

  • Carlos Fernando Pereira da Silva Herrero,
  • Anderson Luís do Nascimento,
  • Rafael Pinheiro Cunha,
  • João Paço Vaz de Souza,
  • Marcelo Henrique Nogueira-Barbosa,
  • Helton Luiz Aparecido Defino

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1590/S1808-18512014130400442
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13, no. 4
pp. 294 – 297

Abstract

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Objective: To evaluate the clinical and radiological results of treatment of patients with spondylodiscitis. Methods: Imaging exams used in this study were plain radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging of the spine. Results: Data from 33 patients, 10 (30.3%) females and 23 (69.7%) males were evaluated. The average time to diagnosis was four months and 28 days (SD ± 1 month and 28 days) and 19 patients (57.5%) presented neurological deficit. Surgical treatment was performed in 22 patients (66.6%) and three patients (9.1%) had complications from the surgery. Conclusions: Despite technological advances in complementary exams, early diagnosis of spondylodiscitis remains a challenge. However, drug treatment associated with surgery shows good results.