title: Septic arthritis of the facet joint.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Septic arthritis of the facet joint is a rare clinical entity. We report 11 cases of facet joint infections diagnosed in our institution.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were identified via the computerized patients record (PMSI). Their features were collected and compared with published data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The clinical symptoms are similar to those of infectious spondylodiscitis: back pain with stiffness (11/11), fever (9/11), radicular pain (5/11), and asthenia. Ten patients presented with lumbar infection and 1 with dorsal infection. An inflammatory syndrome was observed in every case. A rapid access to spine MRI allowed making the diagnosis in every case, and assessing a potential extension of infection (epidural extension 5/11, paraspinal extension 5/11). Blood culture (8/11) or culture of spinal samples allowed identifying the causative bacterium in every case and adapting the antibiotic treatment. The bacteria identified in our series were different from previously reported ones, with less staphylococci. The origin of the infection was found in 4 cases. Another localization of infection was observed in 4 cases. The outcome was favorable with medical treatment in 10 cases. An abscess was surgically drained in 1 case. None of our patients presented with neurological complications, probably because of the rapid diagnosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Assessing the facet joint is essential in case of inflammatory back pain, and the radiologist must be asked to perform this examination.
authors.affiliation: Service de rhumatologie, centre hospitalier départemental, site de La-Roche-sur-Yon-Les Oudairies, 85925 La-Roche-sur-Yon, France. Electronic address: vincent.andre@chd-vendee.fr.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: André
authors.affiliation: Service de rhumatologie, centre hospitalier départemental, site de La-Roche-sur-Yon-Les Oudairies, 85925 La-Roche-sur-Yon, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pot-Vaucel
authors.affiliation: Service de rhumatologie, centre hospitalier départemental, site de La-Roche-sur-Yon-Les Oudairies, 85925 La-Roche-sur-Yon, France.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cozic
authors.affiliation: Service d'imagerie médicale, centre hospitalier départemental, site de La-Roche-sur-Yon, Les Oudairies 85925, La-Roche-sur-Yon, France.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Visée
authors.affiliation: Services d'infectiologie, centre hospitalier départemental, site de La-Roche-sur-Yon, Les Oudairies, 85925 La-Roche-sur-Yon, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morrier
authors.affiliation: Service de rhumatologie, centre hospitalier départemental, site de La-Roche-sur-Yon-Les Oudairies, 85925 La-Roche-sur-Yon, France.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Varin
authors.affiliation: Service de rhumatologie, centre hospitalier départemental, site de La-Roche-sur-Yon-Les Oudairies, 85925 La-Roche-sur-Yon, France.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cormier
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001170:Arthritis, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D001416:Back Pain / Q000209:etiology; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000382:microbiology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010014:Osteolysis / Q000209:etiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D013166:Spondylitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000382:microbiology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D021801:Zygapophyseal Joint / Q000382:microbiology*
keywords: Arthrite septique articulaire postérieur; IRM; MRI; Septic arthritis of the facet joint