title: [Spondylodiscitis in children and adolescents].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Spondylodiscitis in children is rare. The condition has an incidence of 2 to 4 % of all infectious skeletal diseases in children.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Aim of the article is the presentation of epidemiology, the clinical signs, radiological findings as well the treatment options of non-specific and specific spondylodiscitis in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  The available literature was reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Non-specific spondylodiscitis in children is caused by haematogenous spread of pathogens. Staphylococcus aureus is the most frequently detected bacterium. The clinical signs are unspecific and an Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the spine is the standard radiological procedure to detect spondylodiscitis. In general, the treatment is conservative and includes an antibiotic therapy as well an immobilization of the spine. In endemic areas of the world, specific spondylodiscitis is more common and is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis or Brucellae. The treatment is also conservative. For all entities of spondylodiscitis in children, a surgical intervention is only necessary in the case of severe deformities due to the infection or in the case of neurological symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Elevated infectious laboratory values and back pain or other unspecific symptoms can indicate spondylodiscitis in children. MRI of the spine is necessary to rule out spondylodiscitis.
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für Orthopädie, Unfallchirurgie und plastische Chirurgie, Bereich Wirbelsäulenchirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Leipzig, Liebigstraße 20, 04103, Leipzig, Deutschland.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Völker
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Gastroenterologie und Rheumatologie, Fachbereich Infektions- und Tropenmedizin, Universitätsklinikum Leipzig, Liebigstraße 20, 04103, Leipzig, Deutschland.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schubert
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für Orthopädie, Unfallchirurgie und plastische Chirurgie, Bereich Wirbelsäulenchirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Leipzig, Liebigstraße 20, 04103, Leipzig, Deutschland. christoph-eckhard.heyde@medizin.uni-leipzig.de.
authors.forename: C-E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Heyde
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000379:methods; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D015299:Discitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007103:Immobilization / Q000379:methods*; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
keywords: Brucella; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Specific and unspecific infection of the spine; Spondylodiscitis in children; Treatment of spondylodiscitis