We need you! Join our contributor community and become a WikEM editor through our open and transparent promotion process.
Vertebral osteomyelitis
From WikEM
Contents
Background
Clinical Features
- Usually have had prolonged symptoms (pain >3mo)
- At risk for recent bacteremia
- Fever is a feature - however, often afebrile
- Vertebral body tenderness
- Paravertebral muscle spasm unreponsive to conservative therapy
- Paravertebral or epidural abscess may develop
Differential Diagnosis
Spinal infection
- Epidural Abscess (Spinal)
- Discitis
- Vertebral osteomyelitis
Evaluation
- ESR (almost always elevated)
- Blood cultures
- Imaging
- May take 2-8 weeks to see changes
- Bony destruction, irregularity of vertebral end places, disk space narrowing
Management
- Antibiotics
- Usually requires IV antibiotic x6wk, then PO antibiotic x 4-8wk
- Consult with spine surgeon before starting antibiotics (may interfere with biopsy culture)
- Piperacillin-tazobactam 3.375gm IV + vancomycin 1gm IV
Disposition
- Normally, initially inpatient treatment
References
Authors
Jordan Swartz, Kevin Lu, Ross Donaldson, Daniel Ostermayer, Neil Young
