title: Chronic osteomyelitis of the lumbar transverse process.
abstract: Pyogenic spondylitis involving only the posterior element of a vertebra is rare. To the best of our knowledge, there have been no reports of osteomyelitis of the transverse process. We report here on a 45-year-old male with a one month history of swelling associated with lower back pain. The magnetic resonance imaging showed a paraspinal soft tissue mass, and computed tomography revealed a fine osteolytic lesion in the right transverse process of the 5th lumbar spine, and this was all consistent with chronic osteomyelitis. A mixed staphylococcal infection was identified. Open drainage, resection of the transverse process and intravenous injection of anti-staphylococcal antibiotics resolved the back pain and reduced the erythrocyte sedimentation rate to normal. Pyogenic osteomyelitis of the transverse process is extremely rare, which can cause a misdiagnosis or a delayed diagnosis. Careful consideration of this disease is needed when evaluating patients who complain of back pain.
authors: Department of Orthopedics, Myongji Hospital, Kwandong University College of Medicine, Jecheon, Korea.
authors: Bong-Jin
authors: BJ
authors: Lee
authors: Seong-Tae
authors: ST
authors: Kim
authors: Min Geun
authors: MG
authors: Yoon
authors: Sung-Soo
authors: SS
authors: Kim
authors: Myung-Sang
authors: MS
authors: Moon
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed