Cervical spondylodiscitis, osteomyelitis, and epidural abscess mimicking a vertebral fracture.
BACKGROUND
Spinal vertebral fractures are common in elderly patients, especially after a significant fall. Neck tenderness or neurologic deficits after a fall should increase the suspicion of cervical spinal fracture.


METHODS
A 75-year-old woman complained of 2 weeks of gradually increasing neck and right shoulder pain after a fall. She had an X-ray study that appeared to show an unstable C6-C7 fracture. A computed tomography scan of the neck revealed no fracture and was consistent with spondylodiscitis and osteomyelitis of C6 and C7, with an adjacent epidural abscess and mild cord compression.


CONCLUSIONS
It is important to consider this diagnosis in patients with a history of infective endocarditis who develop back pain, to minimize morbidity associated with this disorder.
Hanck
Jill L
JL
Department of Emergency Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, Richmond, Virginia, USA.
Muñiz
Antonio E
AE
D000368:Aged; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D015299:Discitis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D020802:Epidural Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed