Imaging and management of postoperative spine infection

Neuroimaging Clin N Am. 2014 May;24(2):365-74. doi: 10.1016/j.nic.2014.01.003.

Abstract

Imaging evaluation of postoperative spinal infection is challenging. A systematic approach and keen understanding of multimodality imaging techniques, as well as knowledge of the patient's surgical procedure and clinical presentation, are critical for the radiologist to render an accurate diagnosis. Because of the overlap between diagnostic imaging findings in the postoperative spine and the infected spine, in those situations in which the index of clinical suspicion for spine infection is high, then immediate consideration ought to be given to performing a spine biopsy.

Keywords: Epidural abscess; Infection; Postoperative spine; Spine surgery; Spondylodiskitis.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Cooperative Behavior
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Discitis / diagnosis
  • Discitis / pathology
  • Epidural Abscess / diagnosis
  • Epidural Abscess / pathology
  • Epidural Abscess / surgery
  • Humans
  • Image-Guided Biopsy / methods
  • Interdisciplinary Communication
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods
  • Neuroimaging / methods*
  • Osteomyelitis / diagnosis
  • Osteomyelitis / pathology
  • Osteomyelitis / surgery
  • Radionuclide Imaging / methods
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Spinal Diseases / surgery*
  • Spinal Fusion / instrumentation
  • Surgical Wound Infection / diagnosis*
  • Surgical Wound Infection / pathology
  • Surgical Wound Infection / surgery
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / methods