In spite of improvements in diagnostic modalities, and antibiotic therapy, pyogenic spondylitis remains difficult to diagnose and treat in some cases. A series of 17 cases were reviewed based on patient records from 1999 to 2003 at our hospital. Seven patients (41.2%) had complications such as diabetic mellitus, abnormality of hepatic function, and administration of steroid hormone. During the clinical course, 10 patients (58.8%) had sub-acute or chronic onset, and 13 patients (76.5%) were already receiving antibiotic therapy before diagnosis. All patients except for one patient who developed paraplegia were successfully treated with conservative therapy.
