Clinical Findings of Spinal Infection

We studied 23 cases (17 males, 6 females) with suppurative spondylitis to find out the characteristics which affect the clinical course. Two cervical cases and 11 thoracoo-lumbar cases recuperated with intravenous antibiotics, however, four cervical cases and six thoraco-lumbar cases needed surgery after antibiotic administration. Thoraco-lumbar cases aged under 14 years could be treated conservatively. The surgical cases revealed the following characteristics: palsy due to kyphotic deformity of the cervical spine, and long-standing (>8 weeks)/recurrent inflammation in the thoraco-lumbar spine despite antibiotic admimistration. Regarding the area of osteolysis shown on radiographs and high intensity areas in MR images, significant differences were not seen between conservatively and surgically treated cases at any spinal level. High intensity area in T2 weighted images extended to the whole body of the cervical spine.