Study Design: Case report.
Objective: We report a rare case of fungal vertebral osteomyelitis in a tsunami survivor of the Great East Japan Earthquake.
Summary Of Background Data: Fungal vertebral osteomyelitis due to Scedosporium apiospermum (S. apiospermum) is extremely rare. We describe the case of a 45-year-old male who developed vertebral osteomyelitis by S. apiospermum 1 month after near drowning in the huge tsunami after the Great East Japan Earthquake.
Methods: The patient was treated with a combination of percutaneous posterolateral endoscopic debridement and antifungal therapy. The case was evaluated with radiography and computed tomography, and his white blood cell count and C-reactive protein level in serum were measured 20 months after initiation of treatment.
Results: The patient had no low back pain and both white blood cell count and C-reactive protein had remained normal. Radiographs and computed tomography of lumbar spine demonstrated sclerotic change of endplates and spur formation bridging the L3 and L4 vertebral bodies.
Conclusion: We report a rare case of the fungal vertebral osteomyelitis caused by S. apiospermum. If a patient develops severe back pain after a near-drowning episode in dirty water such as a swamp or a river, the clinician should be suspicious of the possibility of fungal spondylitis by S. apiospermum.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/BRS.0000000000000317 | DOI Listing |
Cureus
January 2025
Internal Medicine, Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte, Hospital de Santa Maria, Lisbon, PRT.
The bone tissue is a specialised connective tissue composed of several components that undergo constant remodelling. The balance between bone deposition and resorption is essential for maintaining a healthy bone structure. In case of a disruption in this remodelling process, which can lead to an imbalance between bone deposition and resorption, an increase in the opacity of a vertebral body may be observed in imaging studies, resulting in what is known as the "ivory vertebra sign".
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGlobal Spine J
January 2025
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Kobe City Medical Center General Hospital, Kobe, Japan.
Study Design: Retrospective study.
Objective: To elucidate the factors influencing the identification of causative microorganisms in vertebral osteomyelitis (VO) and the effectiveness of different culture methods in increasing the identification rate.
Methods: A total of 252 patients diagnosed with and treated for VO at a single hospital were enrolled.
J Community Hosp Intern Med Perspect
January 2025
Department of Cardiology, Long Island Community Hospital, United States.
is an alpha-hemolytic gram-positive catalase-negative coccus that typically causes urinary tract infections. It has been rarely implicated in other invasive infections such as endocarditis, bacteremia, peritonitis, meningitis, and vertebral osteomyelitis. There are approximately 50 reported cases of infective endocarditis in literature.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBrain Spine
December 2024
Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
Introduction: The management of de novo non-specific spinal infections (spondylodiscitis - SD) remains inconsistent due to varying clinical practices and a lack of high-level evidence, particularly regarding the indications for surgery.
Research Question: This study aims to develop consensus recommendations for the diagnosis and management of SD, addressing diagnostic modalities, surgical indications, and treatment strategies.
Material And Methods: A Delphi process was conducted with 26 experts from the European Association of Neurosurgical Societies (EANS).
Global Spine J
January 2025
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rothman Institute, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Study Design: Literature Review with clinical recommendations.
Objective: To highlight impactful studies on pyogenic spondylodiscitis (PS), identified by the AO Spine Knowledge Forum Trauma and Infection, with recommendations for their integration into clinical practice.
Methods: Five influential studies on PS that have the potential to shape current practice in spinal infections were selected and reviewed.
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