Discitis MedPix

Description: Discussion & Images
History: Patient presents with back pain
-Factoid Discussion: Hematogenous seeding of infection occurs in the vertebral body, especially near the endplates which have the highest blood supply. Osteomyelitis may also develop. Pyogenic infection may break through into the disc. There may be extension into the paraspinous soft tissues. The most common organism is Staphylococcus aureus but other organisms include; Salmonella, Escherichia coli, tuberculosis and brucellosis. Risk factors include diabetes and genitourinary infection. Destruction of bone and disc leads to pain, spinal instability, kyphosis and loss of height. Paraspinous abscess may also result. An epidural abscess may lead to spinal cord compression and neurologic impairment.