Clinical Results of 31 Patients with Pyogenic Spondylitis

We studied 31 pateients with pyogenic spondylitis who were treated at our hospital from 1996 to 2004. They consisted of 17 male and 14 female patients ranging in age from 37 to 76 years (mean: 63 years). The follow-up period ranged from six to 26 months (mean: 13 months). Sixteen cases were treated conservatively with antibiotics and brace, and 15 cases surgically. Twenty patients (64.5%) had an impaired immune system secondary to diabetes mellitus, cancer, renal or hepatic failure.The infection in 18 patients (58.4%) was caused by organisms. The source of the infection was confirmed in seven (22.6%) with the urinary tract being the most frequent source. MRI is very sensitive and often quite specific for spinal infection. But it is difficult to evaluate the healing phase of chronic pyogenic spondylitis.