title: Overview of the complications and sequelae in spinal infections.
abstract: Spondylitis or infection of the spine is a spectrum of diseases involving the bone, disks, and/or ligaments. Because of a significant increase in the immunocompromised patient population, spinal infections are a growing and changing group of conditions, making the diagnosis based on imaging more challenging. Most cases of spinal infections are pyogenic and occur after hematogeneous spread of an infection located elsewhere in the body. A prompt diagnosis remains crucial and MR imaging remains the cornerstone in the diagnosis. This article provides a pictorial overview of the complications and sequelae in spinal infections in general. Discussed are postoperative infections, extraspinal spread of infection, fractures and malformations, and neurologic complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Antwerp University Hospital, University of Antwerp, Wilrijkstraat 10, Edegem 2650, Belgium. Electronic address: jef_huyskens@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Jef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huyskens
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Antwerp University Hospital, University of Antwerp, Wilrijkstraat 10, Edegem 2650, Belgium. Electronic address: johan.vangoethem@uantwerpen.be.
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Van Goethem
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Antwerp University Hospital, University of Antwerp, Wilrijkstraat 10, Edegem 2650, Belgium.
authors.forename: Marguerite
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Faure
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Antwerp University Hospital, University of Antwerp, Wilrijkstraat 10, Edegem 2650, Belgium.
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: van den Hauwe
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Antwerp University Hospital, University of Antwerp, Wilrijkstraat 10, Edegem 2650, Belgium.
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: De Belder
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Antwerp University Hospital, University of Antwerp, Wilrijkstraat 10, Edegem 2650, Belgium.
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Venstermans
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Antwerp University Hospital, University of Antwerp, Wilrijkstraat 10, Edegem 2650, Belgium.
authors.forename: Paul M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Parizel
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology; D013131:Spine / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D013166:Spondylitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology
keywords: Discitis; MR imaging; Spondylitis; Spondylodiscitis