Vertebral osteomyelitis. How to differentiate it from other causes of back and neck pain.

Vertebral osteomyelitis, an uncommon infection, usually presents with the very common symptom of neck or back pain. Awareness of this disorder and its distinctive features aids physicians in prompt ordering of appropriate imaging studies, which usually lead to the diagnosis. Early diagnosis, identification of the infecting microbe, and appropriate antimicrobial therapy are the keys to preventing complications and reducing the need for surgical intervention.