A Survey of 50 Cases of Spondylodiscitis: Clinical, Microbiological, Radiological Features and Treatment

Septic discitis is an inflammatory process of the intervertebral disc which usually involves the discovertebral junction and may extend in to the epidural space and para spinal soft tissues. The aim of this study was to evaluate spondylodiscitis cases(clinical, microbiological, radiological, treatment and complication features) in Firoozgar and Rasool-e-Akram hospitals during 1998-2003. Patients and The present research was an observational study done in periodic cross-sectional way on 50 patients with spondylodiscitis. Data collection including age, gender, predisposing factors, radiography, CT.Scan, MRI, CBC, ESR, CRP was done. The results of aspiration or biopsy, prescription of drug and etc. was recorded through a checklist. Statistical analysis was done with spss 11.5 software. Fifty cases of spondylodiscitis were identified, 25 patients were women(50%). The mean age of our patients was 48.20±20.70 years 75 percent of patients were aged ≤65 years. The most common presenting symptom was back pain(86%). ESR was increased in 91.1% of patients. Diagnosis was originally made by MRI. TB spondylodiscitis was the commonest form of disease. The major predisposing factors were invasive procedure and frequent UTI(22% each of them). Spondylodiscitis should be considered in any patient who has severe localized pain at any spinal level, especially if accompanied by fever and elevated ESR. In developing countries such as Iran one of the important causes of this disease is Tuberculosis.