Spondylodiscitis: early diagnosis and management of patients

Spondylodiscitis is an inflammatory disease of vertebral structures involving intervertebral discs and adjacent vertebral bodies and joints. The main complaint is back pain that is known to be the most prevalent complaint in the general population. Diagnosis of spondylodiscitis is difficult and is often characterized by delay from the debut of symptoms. It is due to the rarity of the disease and non-specificity of its symptoms. The aim was to determine the basic principles of early diagnosis of pyogenic spondylodiscitis. In the present study performed in Kazan City clinical hospital №7, a retrospective analysis of 7 cases of spondylodiscitis during the period from may 2014 to September 2016 was performed. The diagnosis was maid with the use of neuroimaging. In most cases, the lumbar spine was affected. The most common presentation was pain syndrome, moderate to severe. Delay in making a diagnosis from the beginning of the disease was 86.2 days. After antibiotic therapy all patients noted improvement. The study demonstrated that early diagnosis of spondylodiscitis remains a challenge and at the same time requires timely adequate treatment with antibacterial agents. Magnetic resonance imaging is a method of choice for making a diagnosis.

spinal infection, spondylodiscitis, magnetic resonance imaging