We report on 13 patients (9 males, 4 females) with pyogenic osteomyelitis of the spine treated since 1987 to 1995. Femaels ages ranged from 48 to 75 years (mean 54 years). Impaired regions were the cervical spine in 3 patients, thoracic spine in 2 and lumbo-sacral spine in 9. Seven patients suffered from complications, of whom 5 had diabetes mellitus. The follow-up periods ranged from 4 months to 7.5 years (mean, 1 year and 8 months).
Main symptoms included febrile illness of varying intensity and back pain. Leukocytes did not remarkably increase, while ESR Increased, Ranging from 10 to 154mm/hr, mean 95.5mm/hr and CRP ranged from 1+ to 6+, mean 4+.
Radiological changes in the spine mainly included narrowing of the disc space and collapse of the vertebral bodies.
In general, we treated pyogenic osteomyelitis of the spine conservatively with antibiotics and bed rest. However surgery was needed for 9 Patients, because of abscess, neurological symptoms and resistance to conservative treatment.
Nine patients recovered without any sequellae, 3 patients recovered with some neurological symptoms and one Patient died.
