title: Spondylodiscitis in infancy: a potentially fatal condition that can lead to major spinal complications.
abstract: An eight-week-old boy developed severe thoracic   spondylodiscitis following pneumonia and septicaemia. A delay in   diagnosis resulted in complete destruction of the T4 and T5 vertebral   bodies and adjacent discs, with a paraspinal abscess extending into   the mediastinum and epidural space. Antibiotic treatment controlled   the infection and the abscess was aspirated. At the age of six months,   he underwent posterior spinal fusion in situ to   stabilise the spine and prevent progressive kyphosis. At the age   of 13 months, repeat imaging showed lack of anterior vertebral body re-growth   and he underwent anterior spinal fusion from T3 to T6 and augmentation   of the posterior fusion. At the age of five years, he had no symptoms   and radiographs showed bony fusion across the affected levels. Spondylodiscitis should be included in the differential diagnosis   of infants who present with severe illness and atypical symptoms.   Delayed diagnosis can result in major spinal complications with   a potentially fatal outcome.
authors.affiliation: Scottish National Spine Deformity Centre, Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Sciennes Road, Edinburgh EH9 1LF, UK. atsirikos@hotmail.com
authors.forename: A I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Tsirikos
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tome-Bermejo
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D015299:Discitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D007738:Kyphosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D013123:Spinal Fusion; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae