title: Pyogenic osteomyelitis of the atlas: a case report.
abstract: METHODS
  Case report.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To document our experience with conservative treatment of vertebral osteomyelitis of the atlas.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Although several investigators have reported osteomyelitis in the upper cervical region, most of them included the odontoid process. This is a very rare case of successful conservative treatment of osteomyelitis of the atlas.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 37-year-old man with pyogenic osteomyelitis caused by Streptococcus was treated conservatively. After needle biopsy, the patient underwent a 3-month antibiotic course administrated both intravenously and orally with a cervical orthosis for 4 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patient was pain free with no neurologic deficit at the 24-month follow-up, and CT scan showed remodeling of the lesion of the atlas.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Conservative treatment of pyogenic osteomyelitis of the atlas with antibiotics and immobilization was shown to be sufficient in this case.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Fukui Prefectural Hospital, Fukui, Japan. ueda0904@yahoo.co.jp
authors.forename: Yasuhiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ueda
authors.forename: Norio
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kawahara
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Murakami
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsui
authors.forename: Katsuro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tomita
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001270:Cervical Atlas / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents