Septic arthritis of a lumbar facet joint case report and review of the literature.
Septic arthritis of a lumbar facet joint (SALFJ) is a very rare condition. It has mostly been described in adults. Only one other paediatric case has been reported. We present a case of septic arthritis of the left L5-S1 lumbar facet joint, associated with epiduritis and paraspinal abscess, in an 8-year-old boy. Plain radiographs and Technetium bone scan were negative. The diagnosis was made by blood cultures, which isolated staphylococcus epidermidis, and by MRI. The child was treated successfully with antibiotics only.
Department of Paediatric Orthopaedics, Tunis Children's Hospital, 1007 Bab Saadoun, Tunis, Tunisia. mahmoud.smida@rns.tn
Mahmoud
M
Smida
Mejed
M
Lejri
Hajer
H
Kandara
Meriem
M
Sayed
Ferid
F
Ben Chehida
Maher
M
Ben Ghachem
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001170:Arthritis, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D002648:Child; D020802:Epidural Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000150:complications*; D013212:Staphylococcus epidermidis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D021801:Zygapophyseal Joint
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents