In the context of local injection techniques, there are infectious complications such as epidural abscesses and pyogenic spondylitis. An 83-year-old female who received an injection into the paraspinal muscles for lower back pain four years ago developed a paraspinal muscle abscess accompanied bymethicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia and multiple sites of pyogenic spondylitis. Non-surgical treatment was followed with 73 days of antibiotic therapy by cefazoline. We noted an improvement in inflammatory response in blood tests and findings of inflammation on imaging tests. Instances of delayed-onset infectious complications several years after simple local injection techniques are rare.

This paper describes a case of serious complications following vertebral augmentation resulting from a misdiagnosis of pyogenic spondylitis as osteoporotic compression fracture (OCF). A 56-year-old female with systemic lupus erythematosus underwent vertebral augmentation following a diagnosis of T10 OCF based on plain film analysis. Note that preoperative computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were not performed. One day after vertebral augmentation, the patient experienced a recurrence of low back pain with fever and paraplegia. MRI findings revealed paravertebral and epidural soft tissue over T9 and T10 with cord compression. Subsequent laminectomy of T9 and T10 revealed devitalized lamina, epidural abscess, and granulation tissue. Pathological analysis indicated a combination of acute and chronic inflammation. A pus culture identified Staphylococcus aureus, indicative of pre-existing pyogenic spondylitis. Further revision surgery was performed at another hospital. The patient remained in a paraplegic state one year after surgery. Infectious spondylitis often manifests with nonspecific symptoms similar to those of compression fracture, and plain radiographs are insufficient to differentiate between the two, often leading to misdiagnosis and mistreatment. Nonetheless, many practitioners base preoperative planning solely on plain film imaging. We advocate the routine usage of CT and/or MRI for patients diagnosed with compression fractures, particularly for immunocompromised individuals.

UNASSIGNED: Compared to other cancers, research on bloodstream infection in head and neck cancer is scarce, lacking comparative studies on persistent versus transient bacteremia outcomes.
UNASSIGNED: This retrospective survey examined patients with head and neck cancer undergoing blood culture at our center from June 2009 to May 2023. Blood culture-positive cases suspected of infection were divided into persistent bacteremia and transient bacteremia groups. We investigated their clinical, epidemiological, and microbiological features, including risk factors for persistent bacteremia and mortality. The primary outcome was 90-day mortality.
UNASSIGNED: In this 97-patient cohort, 14 (14%) cases were assigned to the persistent bacteremia group. Catheter-related bloodstream infections were the leading cause of infection in both groups, consistently contributing to a high proportion of overall bloodstream infections. The mortality rate was generally higher in the persistent bacteremia group than in the transient bacteremia group (odds ratio [OR], 2.6; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.6-11.1), particularly in the non-clearance subgroup (OR, 9; 95% CI, 0.5-155.2). Pyogenic spondylitis was a key risk factor for persistent bacteremia, while hypoalbuminemia increased mortality.
UNASSIGNED: In patients with bacteremia and head and neck cancer, persistent bacteremia was associated with higher mortality than was transient bacteremia. Adittionally, bacteremia clearance in persistent bacteremia is thus crucial for prognostic improvement.

BACKGROUND: Minimally invasive posterior fixation surgery for pyogenic spondylitis is known to reduce invasiveness and complication rates; however, the outcomes of concomitant insertion of pedicle screws (PS) into the infected vertebrae via the posterior approach are undetermined. This study aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of PS insertion into infected vertebrae in minimally invasive posterior fixation for thoracolumbar pyogenic spondylitis.
METHODS: This multicenter retrospective cohort study included 70 patients undergoing minimally invasive posterior fixation for thoracolumbar pyogenic spondylitis across nine institutions. Patients were categorized into insertion and skip groups based on PS insertion into infected vertebrae, and surgical data and postoperative outcomes, particularly unplanned reoperations due to complications, were compared.
RESULTS: The mean age of the 70 patients was 72.8 years. The insertion group (n = 36) had shorter operative times (146 versus 195 min, p = 0.032) and a reduced range of fixation (5.4 versus 6.9 vertebrae, p = 0.0009) compared to the skip group (n = 34). Unplanned reoperations occurred in 24% (n = 17) due to surgical site infections (SSI) or implant failure; the incidence was comparable between the groups. Poor infection control necessitating additional anterior surgery was reported in four patients in the skip group.
CONCLUSIONS: PS insertion into infected vertebrae during minimally invasive posterior fixation reduces the operative time and range of fixation without increasing the occurrence of unplanned reoperations due to SSI or implant failure. Judicious PS insertion in patients with minimal bone destruction in thoracolumbar pyogenic spondylitis can minimize surgical invasiveness.

Pyogenic spondylitis is a rare life-threatening condition. Conservative treatment with antibiotics is indicated; however, surgery can be considered in refractory cases. The surgical strategy varies, as pyogenic spondylosis can occur from the cervical to sacral regions. To our knowledge, although there is less invasiveness as an advantage in the following management, cervical and thoracic-lumbar-sacral circumferential fixations in two sessions for pyogenic spondylitis have not been previously described. An 84-year-old man complained of ambulation disturbances and pain in the neck and upper and lower extremities (the Japan Orthopaedic Association cervical myelopathy evaluation questionnaire score of 5/17). Magnetic resonance imaging revealed pyogenic spondylitis of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar regions. Epidural abscesses and spondylodiscitis were concurrently diagnosed with multi-level skipping lesions from the cervical to the sacral regions. As these lesions were resistant to antibiotic treatment and the neurological symptoms worsened, surgical treatment was planned. Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, and posterior cervical fixation were followed by oblique and posterior lumbar intervertebral fusions with long-level fixation from T12 to the ilium using percutaneous pedicle screws. The surgeries were performed in two sessions to avoid the invasiveness of surgeries in a single session. The patient\'s condition improved after a second surgery. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 116. No recurrence was observed for six months, and the patient was able to ambulate independently. Two-stage cervical and thoracic-lumbar-sacral circumferential fixation for pyogenic spondylitis contributed to a favorable outcome (the Japan Orthopaedic Association cervical myelopathy evaluation questionnaire score of 13/17).

A 65-year-old with a history of spinal cord injury and previous cervical surgery presented with persistent fever despite antibiotic treatment. MRI scans revealed an abscess in the neck extending from C3 to C6, with associated osteomyelitis. After an initial discharge following antibiotic therapy, the patient was readmitted due to recurrent systemic infection symptoms and another abscess. A subsequent endoscopy showed esophageal rupture with protruding cervical fusion metal. Due to operative risks, a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy was performed without further infection recurrence. The absence of typical imaging signs of esophageal rupture made diagnosis difficult. The infection spread through the cervical fascia from superficial to deep cervical areas. Esophageal rupture, a rare complication of cervical surgery, presents with varying symptoms depending on its location and was particularly challenging to diagnose in this patient due to high cervical tetraplegia, which masked typical pain responses. Therefore, this case highlights the need to consider esophageal rupture in differential diagnoses for chronic ACDF patients, even when typical symptoms are absent.

UNASSIGNED: There are few reports of cases with vertical subluxation. We report our experience of a vertical subluxation of the atlantoaxial joint caused by infection.
UNASSIGNED: A 63-year-old man had a 5-month history of neck pain. He was treated for rheumatoid arthritis by a local doctor. At admission to our hospital, he had neck pain and complained of dysphagia and hoarseness. His white blood cell count and C-reactive protein were 7200/mm3 and 4.86 mg/dL. Cervical X-ray showed atlantoaxial subluxation. Computed tomography showed osteolysis around the odontoid process, including the atlantooccipital and atlantoaxial joints, causing vertical subluxation. Magnetic resonance imaging showed spinal cord and brainstem compression and the presence of fluid. Gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging showed enhancement around the odontoid process. We performed occipital-cervical spine fixation and C1 laminectomy. Following surgery, his symptoms completely resolved. Bone fusion was confirmed 6 months after surgery.
UNASSIGNED: If subluxation of the upper cervical spine occurs rapidly, infection should be considered.

Pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis (PVO) is a prevalent infection in the elderly, frequently complicated by iliopsoas and epidural abscesses. Traditional treatments are often ineffective for refractory cases. In this report, a 76-year-old man with PVO, iliopsoas, and epidural abscess was unresponsive to antibiotics, presenting with severe lower back pain and functional impairments. A two-stage surgical intervention was implemented: anterior debridement, autogenous bone graft fixation, and novel application of retroperitoneal continuous local antibiotic perfusion (CLAP), followed by posterior fixation. A contrast test verified correct CLAP perfusion into the iliopsoas abscess and intervertebral disc space. Substantial improvements were noted postoperatively, including a marked reduction in pain, inflammation, and the size of both abscesses. In conclusion, this case demonstrates the feasibility and effectiveness of retroperitoneal CLAP in treating refractory PVO, offering a potential innovative solution for cases resistant to conventional therapies.

UNASSIGNED: Treatment for pyogenic spondylitis tends to be prolonged; however, few studies have examined the factors associated with the time required for infection control. Therefore, we analyzed a consecutive cohort of patients to identify factors associated with the time required to control infection in pyogenic spondylitis. This study aimed to clarify the factors linked to the duration necessary for achieving infection control in cases of pyogenic spondylitis, using C-reactive protein (CRP) normalization as an indicator.
UNASSIGNED: In this retrospective observational study, we investigated 108 patients diagnosed with pyogenic spondylitis. We evaluated the number of days from the first visit to CRP normalization; for cases wherein CRP did not normalize, the number of days to the date of final blood sampling was evaluated. In the present study, infection control in pyogenic spondylitis was defined as a CRP falling within the normal range (≤0.14 mg/dL). We performed univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses to identify various factors associated with the time required for CRP normalization in pyogenic spondylitis.
UNASSIGNED: The mean time required for CRP normalization was 148 days. Univariate Cox regression analysis showed that the serum creatinine level, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), lymphocyte percentage, neutrophil percentage, CRP level, CRP-albumin ratio, and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio were significantly associated with the time required to control infection. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that a higher neutrophil percentage, diabetes mellitus, and a lower eGFR were the independent factors associated with a longer infection control time.
UNASSIGNED: We found that a higher neutrophil percentage, diabetes mellitus, and a lower eGFR were significantly associated with a longer time for CRP normalization in pyogenic spondylitis. These findings may help identify patients with pyogenic spondylitis who are at a high risk for an extended infection control period.

UNASSIGNED: Pyogenic spondylitis (PS) and Brucella spondylitis (BS) are commonly seen spinal infectious diseases. Both types can lead to vertebral destruction, kyphosis, and long-term neurological deficits if not promptly diagnosed and treated. Therefore, accurately diagnosis is crucial for personalized therapy. Distinguishing between PS and BS in everyday clinical settings is challenging due to the similarity of their clinical symptoms and imaging features. Hence, this study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a radiomics nomogram using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to accurately differentiate between the two types of spondylitis.
UNASSIGNED: Clinical and MRI data from 133 patients (2017-2022) with pathologically confirmed PS and BS (68 and 65 patients, respectively) were collected. We have divided patients into training and testing cohorts. In order to develop a clinical diagnostic model, logistic regression was utilized to fit a conventional clinical model (M1). Radiomics features were extracted from sagittal fat-suppressed T2-weighted imaging (FS-T2WI) sequence. The radiomics features were preprocessed, including scaling using Z-score and undergoing univariate analysis to eliminate redundant features. Furthermore, the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) was employed to develop a radiomics score (M2). A composite model (M3) was created by combining M1 and M2. Subsequently, calibration and decision curves were generated to evaluate the nomogram\'s performance in both training and testing groups. The diagnostic performance of each model and the indication was assessed using the receiver operating curve (ROC) with its area under the curve (AUC). Finally, we used the SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) model explanations technique to interpret the model result.
UNASSIGNED: We have finally selected 9 significant features from sagittal FS-T2WI sequences. In the differential diagnosis of PS and BS, the AUC values of M1, M2, and M3 in the testing set were 0.795, 0.859, and 0.868. The composite model exhibited a high degree of concurrence with the ideal outcomes, as evidenced by the calibration curves. The nomogram\'s possible clinical application values were indicated by the decision curve analysis. By using SHAP values to represent prediction outcomes, our model\'s prediction results are more understandable.
UNASSIGNED: The implementation of a nomogram that integrates MRI and clinical data has the potential to significantly enhance the accuracy of discriminating between PS and BS within clinical settings.