Atypical manifestations of spinal infections.

Because of alarming delays in the diagnosis and treatment of vertebral osteomyelitis we have reviewed our experience over the past 15 years. Of the 36 cases, 25 were pyogenic and 11 tuberculous. Because of late referral there was a delay from onset of symptoms to diagnosis of at least three months in 13 patients. The reason for this was the failure of the initial physician to consider osteomyelitis in the differential diagnosis of a febrile illness associated with back pain. The majority of our patients from the onset did not have intense localized pain, tenderness and a high fever which is the classical clinical picture in this condition. Seven patients with a long history required surgical exploration and debridement of the lesion in order to eradicate the infection. The remainder did well on 6 to 12 weeks of antibiotic therapy. None required spinal fusion. Ten of 11 patients with spinal tuberculosis had curettage of the lesion and spinal fusion. Patients with diabetes, malignancy, alcoholism, corticosteroid therapy and recent lower urinary tract surgery were found to be at particular risk of developing spinal osteomyelitis. Very often it was difficult to identify differences in the presentation of pyogenic and tuberculous infections.