title: Vertebral and paravertebral sepsis in diabetes: an easily missed cause of backache.
abstract: Vertebral osteomyelitis and epidural abscess are uncommon causes of backache but may have a prediliction for patients with diabetes. We report four cases seen in a diabetic unit over 2 years to emphasize the importance of making a diagnosis as early as possible. We suggest that when a diabetic patient complains of backache the erythrocyte sedimentation rate should be measured since this is the best clue that backache is due to something other than a mechanical derangement.
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000150:complications; D000328:Adult; D001416:Back Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D004824:Epidural Space; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000150:complications; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000150:complications*