Escherichia coli septic arthritis of a lumbar facet joint following urinary tract infection

Septic Arthritis of the Spinal Facet Joint: Review of 117 Cases

Background

Septic arthritis of the spinal facet joints is increasingly recognized in the era of magnetic resonance imaging, but its epidemiology, clinical features, management, and prognosis are ill-defined.

Methods

We review 101 previously published cases and report 16 cases occurring at our institutions between 2006 and 2018.

Results

Most patients presented with fever (60%) and back or neck pain (86%). Radiation into the hip, buttock, or limb was present in 34%. The lumbosacral vertebral segments were involved in 78% of cases. Most cases (64%) were due to Staphylococcus aureus. Bacteremia was present in 66% and paraspinal muscle abscesses in 54%. While epidural abscesses were present in 56%, neurologic complications were seen in only 9%, likely because most abscesses arose below the conus medullaris. Neurologic complications were more common with cervical or thoracic involvement than lumbosacral (32% vs 2%, P < .0001). Extraspinal infection, such as endocarditis, was identified in only 22% of cases. An overall 98% of patients survived, with only 5% having neurologic sequelae.

Conclusions

Septic arthritis of the facet joint is a distinct clinical syndrome typically involving the lumbar spine and is frequently associated with bacteremia, posterior epidural abscesses, and paraspinal pyomyositis. Neurologic outcomes are usually good with medical management alone.

Fungal Arthritis of a Lumbar Facet Joint Because of Candida albicans: A Case Report

CASE

A 73-year-old man who was treated in our hospital for pyelonephritis because of left ureteral stones and fungemia was referred to our orthopaedic department for persistent right lower-back pain. Magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography findings showed pyogenic arthritis of the right L4/5 facet joint with a paraspinal muscle abscess. Based on cultures of samples aspirated from the lesions, we diagnosed the patient with fungal arthritis of the lumbar facet joint. We treated him conservatively with an antifungal agent for a year, and the infection resolved.

CONCLUSION

This is the first report of hematogenous fungal arthritis of a lumbar facet joint.

A Rare Cause of Low Back Pain: A Challenging Diagnosis

One of the rarest causes of low back pain is septic arthritis of a lumbar facet joint. We report the case of a 92-year-old diabetic woman with a history of four days of back pain, dysuria, and fever. Due to a sudden worsening of lumbar pain, she went to the emergency department. Physical exam revealed pain with pressure over the D12 vertebral apophyses and the lower-left paraspinal musculature. Laboratory data showed a normochromic normocytic anemia with a hemoglobin of 9.3 g/dL, white cell count of 14.61x10e3/µL (83.1% neutrophils), serum creatinine 1.46 mg/dL and C-reactive protein of 32.11 mg/dL. In urinalysis, nitrites and leukocyturia were identified. CT scan showed an acute D12 fracture and fat stranding at L5, with no irregularities in the discs or in other lumbar spaces. Escherichia coli was isolated in blood culture. Lumbar MRI confirmed the diagnosis of septic arthritis of an L5-S1 facet joint and L5 vertebrae osteomyelitis. The patient was successfully treated with intravenous ceftriaxone for eight weeks. As far as we know, this is the second report of septic arthritis of the facet joint caused by Escherichia coli.

Streptococcus sanguinis Endocarditis of Bicuspid Aortic Valve Presenting as Septic Arthritis of Lumbar Facet Joint

Septic arthritis of the facet joint (SAFJ) is an uncommon etiology of low back pain that usually affects the elderly population and immunocompromised patients but is rare in immunocompetent and young patients. When such a clinical presentation occurs, it is imperative to diagnose the source of the infection. We report a case of septic arthritis of the left third and fourth lumbar vertebrae facet joint due to Streptococcus sanguinis in a young immunocompetent adult, and the source of infection was found to be subacute infective endocarditis of a bicuspid aortic valve which was undiagnosed till now. A 49-year-old male presented with new-onset palpitations, dyspnea with exertion, low back pain, night sweats, and chills. A physical exam was significant for spinal tenderness on palpation of the lumbar spine around the L3-L5 level. Blood cultures were positive for Streptococcus sanguinis, and an MRI of the lumbar spine showed left-sided L3-L4 septic arthritis with epidural abscess and posterior paravertebral cellulitis/myositis. Transesophageal echocardiography led to the diagnosis of a bicuspid aortic valve and moderate aortic insufficiency, but it was a cardiac computed tomography that showed a sub-aortic valve abscess leading to the diagnosis of infective endocarditis. He was treated with a six-week course of intravenous antibiotics with complete resolution of symptoms, followed by aortic valve replacement with a mechanical valve. This case report focuses on the importance of diagnosing occult sources in clinically atypical infections, especially when hematogenous seeding is suspected.

Calcium Pyrophosphate Deposition Disease Involving a Lumbar Facet Joint Following Urinary Tract Infection

A 75-year-old woman was admitted with urosepsis due to Escherichia coli infection. After improvement with a ureteral stent and antimicrobial agent, she complained of back pain and showed elevated inflammation marker levels. Arthralgia and arthritis of multiple peripheral joints were noted, and radiography indicated cartilage calcification. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed lumbar facet joint effusion. Her symptoms improved with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug administration. Thus, she was diagnosed with calcium pyrophosphate deposition (CPPD)-related facet joint arthritis (FJA) rather than infectious FJA. CPPD-related FJA is an important differential diagnosis in elderly individuals with a risk of CPPD disease who complain of back pain.

Lumbar facet joint septic arthritis presenting atypically as acute abdomen - A case report and review of the literature

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Septic arthritis of the facet joint is rare and often has an atypical presentation.

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Early clinical diagnosis is therefore elusive.

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Magnetic Resonance Imaging and blood culture are useful in the diagnosis.

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Conservative treatment with prolonged sensitive antibiotics is curative.

Introduction

Septic arthritis of the lumbar facet joints is uncommon. The clinical presentation is unusual and patients usually presents with acute back pain or with signs and symptoms mimicking acute abdomen.

Presentation of case

A 52 year old man was admitted to the surgical ward with acute onset of abdominal pain and a provisional diagnosis of acute pyelonephritis. After the initial inconclusive investigations, magnetic resonance imaging was highly suggestive of lumbar facet joint septic arthritis. He was treated with intravenous antibiotics with complete resolution of infection.

Discussion

The diagnosis of septic arthritis of facet joint is becoming more common with MRI scans. The clinical signs and symptoms are usually difficult to differentiate from acute spondylodiscitis. The commonest organism isolated is Staphylococcus aureus. A prompt and early diagnosis and treatment help to eradicate infection and prevent complications.

Conclusion

The atypical presentation of facet joint septic arthritis is one of the reasons why early diagnosis is elusive. Definitive diagnoses with MRI and bacterial culture as well as prolonged antibiotic therapy are recommended in this condition.