title: Rapid bony destruction with pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis.
abstract: We report the case of a previously healthy woman who had an extremely rapid progression of pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis. The plain film radiographs from 1 month before admission, from the time of admission, and from her 1 year follow-up are presented. Although it is a well known fact that pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis can evolve rapidly and that the radiographic images often lag behind the clinical symptoms, it is rare to find a case with such clear radiographic documentation. A film that was interpreted as having mild arthritic changes, 1 month before admission, progressed to one that demonstrates severe bony destruction with a kyphotic angulation of 90 degrees. The current methods of diagnosis and treatment of pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis are reviewed.
authors.affiliation: Section of Neurological Surgery, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, Newark 07103-2499.
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Heary
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Hunt
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Wolansky
mesh_terms: D001862:Bone Resorption / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011859:Radiography; D013492:Suppuration