[Chameleon spondylodiscitis : Challenge for geriatricians]

Nervenarzt. 2018 Jun;89(6):705-718. doi: 10.1007/s00115-018-0546-9.
[Article in German]

Abstract

The incidence of spondylodiscitis is increasing and attributable to an aging population with multimorbidities. Spondylodiscitis represents a life-threatening disease. Typical clinical manifestations often involve nonspecific symptoms with back pain; however, due to the frequent absence of fever the disease is often overlooked. Pathogen detection and spinal imaging with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are essential for the diagnosis. Identification of the causative pathogen is particularly important for initiating targeted antibiotic treatment. Debridement and stabilization are the mainstays of surgical management, even though foreign material must be implanted into the focus of inflammation.

Keywords: Anti-bacterial agents; Bacterial typing; Debridement; Magnetic resonance imaging; Practice guidelines as topic.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Bacteria / isolation & purification
  • Debridement
  • Discitis* / diagnostic imaging
  • Discitis* / microbiology
  • Discitis* / therapy
  • Geriatricians
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents