Septic Arthritis of the Lumber Facet Joint Treated by Operation: Review of Two Cases

Abstract

We report two cases of septic arthritis of the lumber facet joint treated after operation.
Case 1: A 58-year-old woman had fever and severe low back pain. Simple X-ray and CT showed osteolysis at the right L4/5 facet joint. MRI showed abscess at the paravertebral muscle and epidural space. The diagnosis was therefore septic arthritis of the lumbar facet joint. Operation was performed and LBP decreased immediately after operation.
Case 2: A 62-year-old woman had fever and low back pain. She was treated with medication but LBP only slightly increased. Simple X-ray and CT scan showed destruction of the left L5/S facet joint, MRI showed epidural abscess near the left L5/S facet joint, and bone scintigraphy showed uptake at the same region, resulting in the diagnosis of septic arthritis of the lumbar facet joint. LBP decreased after operation.
Conclusion: In both two cases, we found that bacteria caused septic arthritis of facet joint and that effective antibiotics can be administered. LBP significantly decreased after operation.