Childhood discitis in a regional children's hospital.
Childhood discitis is rare, can be difficult to diagnose and it is unclear whether it is an infective or simply an inflammatory process. A departmental database search of 46 434 patients identified 12 cases from 1990-2008. The mean time to diagnosis from onset was 22 days. The children usually present with altered gait, a normal infection screen (temperature, white cell count, C-reactive protein, blood cultures) and radiographic loss of intervertebral disc height. Antibiotics were given in 11 cases and but no immobilization was used. Symptoms resolved by a mean of 6.5 weeks with no recurrence. This study highlights the unusual features of this rare condition which should be confirmed with MRI scanning.
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Dalnair Street, Yorkhill, Glasgow, UK. simon.spencer@nhs.net
Simon J
SJ
Spencer
Neil I L
NI
Wilson
D000293:Adolescent; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016208:Databases, Factual; D015299:Discitis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D007596:Joints / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012074:Remission Induction; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents