Infectious spondylodiscitis: has there been any evolution in the diagnostic and treatment outcomes?

Espondilodiscite infecciosa: houve evolução nos resultados do diagnóstico e tratamento?

¿Espondilodiscitis infecciosa: hubo evolución en los resultados del diagnóstico y tratamiento?

Objective:

To evaluate the clinical and radiological results of treatment of patients with spondylodiscitis.

Methods:

Imaging exams used in this study were plain radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging of the spine.

Results:

Data from 33 patients, 10 (30.3%) females and 23 (69.7%) males were evaluated. The average time to diagnosis was four months and 28 days (SD ± 1 month and 28 days) and 19 patients (57.5%) presented neurological deficit. Surgical treatment was performed in 22 patients (66.6%) and three patients (9.1%) had complications from the surgery.

Conclusions:

Despite technological advances in complementary exams, early diagnosis of spondylodiscitis remains a challenge. However, drug treatment associated with surgery shows good results.

Discitis; Spine; Spinal fusion; Diagnosis; Neurologic manifestations