title: Possible salmonella osteomyelitis of spine following laser disc decompression.
abstract: We report a case of chronic discitis and vertebral osteomyelitis that we believe was caused by Salmonella typhimurium following laser decompression of the L4/5 disc for symptomatic disc protrusion in a 50-year-old Asian man. The infection was successfully treated with intravenous ceftriaxone combined with oral ciprofloxacin. We believe this to be the only report of such a complication following this procedure, which is generally without infective complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Scunthorpe General Hospital, North Linconshire, UK.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Farrar
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cowling
mesh_terms: D015299:Discitis / Q000382:microbiology*; D017587:Diskectomy, Percutaneous / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000601:surgery; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000382:microbiology*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000382:microbiology*; D012480:Salmonella Infections / Q000209:etiology*; D012486:Salmonella typhimurium; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*