Abstract

SANCHEZ CONCEPCION, Rafael; PEREDA CARDOSO, Osvaldo; MONTESINO HERNANDEZ, Eddy  and  BLANCO PLASENCIA, Héctor. Acute hematogenous discitis in an adult patient. Rev Cubana Ortop Traumatol [online]. 2012, vol.26, n.2, pp. 167-174. ISSN 0864-215X.

Introduction: Discitis is one of the forms of presentation of infectious processes of the spine. Discitis of hematogenous origin is more common in children. In adults it is a rare condition associated to immunosuppression, since it generally occurs as a complication of intervertebral disk surgery. Objective: Determine the clinical and imaging characteristics as well as the treatment of this condition in adults. Description: A male 35-year-old patient with a disease history presents with lumbar pain and total functional impotence. Laboratory and imaging studies were conducted. Hematological parameters pointed to an infectious process, and nuclear magnetic resonance imaging revealed a discitis. Treatment consisted of antibiotics and immobilization. Conclusions: The patient showed symptom improvement at 72 hours, with total pain relief at 2 weeks. There was gradual improvement in hematological results, which reached normal levels at 3 months. Imaging studies were normal at 6 months, and the patient resumed his daily routine. Adult hematogenous discitis, though infrequent, should be suspected in any patient with spinal pain symptoms of possible infectious origin not responding to clinical treatment, particularly when it is concomitant with some degree of immunosuppression.

Keywords : spinal infection; discitis; hematogenous.

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