title: Bacterial meningitis after traumatic thoracic fracture-dislocation: two case reports and review of the literature.
abstract: Bacterial meningitis occurs rarely in the setting of traumatic spinal injury. Bacterial meningitis after spinal surgery for traumatic thoracic fracture-dislocation injuries has not been reported. We report on two cases of bacterial meningitis in two pediatric patients undergoing posterior segmental instrumentation with pedicle screws after thoracic fracture-dislocation injuries with associated traumatic dural laceration and complete spinal cord transection. Both patients were treated and recovered. Early recognition of bacterial meningitis after traumatic spinal injury enables appropriate and timely treatment to be instituted and can yield a favorable outcome.
authors.affiliation: Vanderbilt University Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, Nashville, TN 37212, USA. brent.j.morris@vanderbilt.edu
authors.forename: Brent J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fletcher
authors.forename: Richard A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Gregory A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Mencio
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001863:Bone Screws; D003646:Debridement; D004388:Dura Mater / Q000293:injuries; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D017102:Fracture Healing; D006801:Humans; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D016920:Meningitis, Bacterial / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents