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Gonzalez GA, Porto G, Tecce E, Oghli YS, Miao J, O'Leary M, Chadid DP, Vo M, Harrop J. Advances in diagnosis and management of atypical spinal infections: A comprehensive review. NORTH AMERICAN SPINE SOCIETY JOURNAL 2023; 16:100282. [PMID: 37915965 PMCID: PMC10616400 DOI: 10.1016/j.xnsj.2023.100282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
Atypical spinal infections (ASIs) of the spine are a challenging pathology to management with potentially devastating morbidity and mortality. To identify patients with atypical spinal infections, it is important to recognize the often insidious clinical and radiographic presentations, in the setting of indolent and smoldering organism growth. Trending of inflammatory markers, and culturing of organisms, is essential. Once identified, the spinal infection should be treated with antibiotics and possibly various surgical interventions including decompression and possible fusion depending on spine structural integrity and stability. Early diagnosis of ASIs and immediate treatment of debilitating conditions, such as epidural abscess, correlate with fewer neurological deficits and a shorter duration of medical treatment. There have been great advances in surgical interventions and spinal fusion techniques for patients with spinal infection. Overall, ASIs remain a perplexing pathology that could be successfully treated with early diagnosis and immediate, appropriate medical, and surgical management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Glenn A. Gonzalez
- Department of Neurosurgery, Thomas Jefferson University and Jefferson Hospital for Neuroscience, 909 Walnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19107, United States
| | - Guilherme Porto
- Department of Neurosurgery, Thomas Jefferson University and Jefferson Hospital for Neuroscience, 909 Walnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19107, United States
| | - Eric Tecce
- Department of Neurosurgery, Thomas Jefferson University and Jefferson Hospital for Neuroscience, 909 Walnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19107, United States
| | - Yazan Shamli Oghli
- Department of Neurosurgery, Thomas Jefferson University and Jefferson Hospital for Neuroscience, 909 Walnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19107, United States
| | - Jingya Miao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Thomas Jefferson University and Jefferson Hospital for Neuroscience, 909 Walnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19107, United States
| | - Matthew O'Leary
- Department of Neurosurgery, Thomas Jefferson University and Jefferson Hospital for Neuroscience, 909 Walnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19107, United States
| | | | - Michael Vo
- Department of Neurosurgery, Thomas Jefferson University and Jefferson Hospital for Neuroscience, 909 Walnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19107, United States
| | - James Harrop
- Department of Neurosurgery, Thomas Jefferson University and Jefferson Hospital for Neuroscience, 909 Walnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19107, United States
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Balcescu C, Odeh K, Rosinski A, Nudelman B, Schlauch A, Shah I, Ungurean Jr. V, Prasad P, Leasure J, Stepansky F, Piple A, Kondrashov D. Pyogenic spinal infections warrant a total spine MRI. J Bone Jt Infect 2023; 8:1-9. [PMID: 36687464 PMCID: PMC9850241 DOI: 10.5194/jbji-8-1-2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Study design: retrospective case series. Objective: the presenting clinical symptoms of spinal infections are often nonspecific and a delay in diagnosis can lead to adverse patient outcomes. The morbidity and mortality of patients with multifocal spinal infections is significantly higher compared to unifocal infections. The purpose of the current study was to analyse the risk factors for multifocal spinal infections. Methods: we conducted a retrospective review of all pyogenic non-tuberculous spinal infections treated surgically at a single tertiary care medical center from 2006-2020. The medical records, imaging studies, and laboratory data of 43 patients during this time period were reviewed and analysed after receiving Institutional Review Board approval. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify factors associated with a multifocal spinal infection. Results: 15 patients (35 %) had multifocal infections. In univariate analysis, there was a significant association with chronic kidney disease ( p = 0.040 ), gender ( p = 0.003 ), a white blood cell count ( p = 0.011 ), and cervical ( p < 0.001 ) or thoracic ( p < 0 .001) involvement. In multivariate analysis, both cervical and thoracic involvement remained statistically significant ( p = 0.001 and p < 0.001 , respectively). Conclusions: patients with infections in the thoracic or cervical region are more likely to have a multifocal infection. Multifocal pyogenic spinal infections remain a common entity and a total spine MRI should be performed to aid in prompt diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristian Balcescu
- San Francisco Orthopaedic Residency Program, St. Mary's Medical
Center, San Francisco, CA 94117, USA
| | - Khalid Odeh
- San Francisco Orthopaedic Residency Program, St. Mary's Medical
Center, San Francisco, CA 94117, USA
| | - Alexander Rosinski
- San Francisco Orthopaedic Residency Program, St. Mary's Medical
Center, San Francisco, CA 94117, USA
| | - Brandon Nudelman
- San Francisco Orthopaedic Residency Program, St. Mary's Medical
Center, San Francisco, CA 94117, USA
| | - Adam Schlauch
- San Francisco Orthopaedic Residency Program, St. Mary's Medical
Center, San Francisco, CA 94117, USA
| | - Ishan Shah
- San Francisco Orthopaedic Residency Program, St. Mary's Medical
Center, San Francisco, CA 94117, USA
| | | | - Priya Prasad
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of California San
Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | | | - Flora Stepansky
- Department of Radiology, St. Mary's Medical Center, San Francisco, CA
94117, USA
| | - Amit Piple
- The Taylor Collaboration, San Francisco, CA 94117, USA
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3
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Long B, Carlson J, Montrief T, Koyfman A. High risk and low prevalence diseases: Spinal epidural abscess. Am J Emerg Med 2022; 53:168-172. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ajem.2022.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2021] [Revised: 12/31/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
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Ortiz AO, Levitt A, Shah LM, Parsons MS, Agarwal V, Baldwin K, Bhattacharyya S, Boulter DJ, Burns J, Fink KR, Hunt CH, Hutchins TA, Kao LS, Khan MA, Lo BM, Moritani T, Reitman C, Repplinger MD, Shah VN, Singh S, Timpone VM, Corey AS. ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Suspected Spine Infection. J Am Coll Radiol 2021; 18:S488-S501. [PMID: 34794603 DOI: 10.1016/j.jacr.2021.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Spine infection is both a clinical and diagnostic imaging challenge due to its relatively indolent and nonspecific clinical presentation. The diagnosis of spine infection is based upon a combination of clinical suspicion, imaging evaluation and, when possible, microbiologic confirmation performed from blood cultures or image-guided percutaneous or open spine biopsy. With respect to the imaging evaluation of suspected spine infection, MRI without and with contrast of the affected spine segment is the initial diagnostic test of choice. As noncontrast MRI of the spine is often used in the evaluation of back or neck pain not responding to conservative medical management, it may show findings that are suggestive of infection, hence this procedure may also be considered in the evaluation of suspected spine infection. Nuclear medicine studies, including skeletal scintigraphy, gallium scan, and FDG-PET/CT, may be helpful in equivocal or select cases. Similarly, radiography and CT may be appropriate for assessing overall spinal stability, spine alignment, osseous integrity and, when present, the status of spine instrumentation or spine implants. The American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria are evidence-based guidelines for specific clinical conditions that are reviewed annually by a multidisciplinary expert panel. The guideline development and revision include an extensive analysis of current medical literature from peer reviewed journals and the application of well-established methodologies (RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation or GRADE) to rate the appropriateness of imaging and treatment procedures for specific clinical scenarios. In those instances where evidence is lacking or equivocal, expert opinion may supplement the available evidence to recommend imaging or treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Orlando Ortiz
- Chairman, Department of Radiology, Jacobi Medical Center, Bronx, New York.
| | - Alex Levitt
- Research Author, Jacobi Medical Center, Bronx, New York
| | - Lubdha M Shah
- Panel Chair, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Matthew S Parsons
- Panel Vice-Chair, Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Saint Louis, Missouri
| | - Vikas Agarwal
- Vice-Chair of Education, Chief, Neuroradiology, and Director, Spine Intervention, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Keith Baldwin
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
| | - Shamik Bhattacharyya
- Brigham & Women's Hospital & Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, American Academy of Neurology
| | - Daniel J Boulter
- Clinical Director, MRI, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Judah Burns
- Program Director, Diagnostic Radiology Residency Program, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York
| | | | | | - Troy A Hutchins
- Chief Value Officer, Department of Radiology, University of Utah Health, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Lillian S Kao
- Chief, Division of Acute Care Surgery, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas; and American Association for the Surgery of Trauma
| | - Majid A Khan
- Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Bruce M Lo
- Sentara Norfolk General/Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia; Board Member, American Academy of Emergency Medicine; and American College of Emergency Physicians
| | | | - Charles Reitman
- Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina; and Board of Directors, North American Spine Society
| | - Michael D Repplinger
- University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin; President, Dane County Medical Society; Councillor, American College of Emergency Physicians; and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
| | - Vinil N Shah
- University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California; and Executive Committee, American Society of Spine Radiology
| | - Simranjit Singh
- Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana; Secretary, SHM, Indiana Chapter; Secretary, SGIM, Midwest Region; and American College of Physicians
| | - Vincent M Timpone
- Co-Director, Neuroradiology Spine Intervention Service, Department of Radiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Amanda S Corey
- Specialty Chair, Atlanta VA Health Care System and Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
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Nudelman B, Mittal A, Rosinski A, Zaborovskii N, Wu S, Kondrashov D. Whole-Spine Magnetic Resonance Imaging: A Review of Suggested Indications. JBJS Rev 2021; 9:01874474-202107000-00004. [PMID: 34257232 DOI: 10.2106/jbjs.rvw.20.00267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
» The spinal column has a propensity for lesions to manifest in a multifocal manner, and identification of the lesions can be difficult. » When used to image the spine, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) most accurately identifies the presence and location of lesions, guiding the treatment plan and preventing potentially devastating complications that are known to be associated with unidentified lesions. » Certain conditions clearly warrant evaluation with whole-spine MRI, whereas the use of whole-spine MRI with other conditions is more controversial. » We suggest whole-spine MRI when evaluating and treating any spinal infection, lumbar stenosis with upper motor neuron signs, ankylosing disorders of the spine with concern for fracture, congenital scoliosis undergoing surgical correction, and metastatic spinal tumors. » Use of whole-spine MRI in patients with idiopathic scoliosis and acute spinal trauma remains controversial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandon Nudelman
- San Francisco Orthopaedic Residency Program, San Francisco, California
| | - Ashish Mittal
- San Francisco Orthopaedic Residency Program, San Francisco, California
| | | | - Nikita Zaborovskii
- Spine Surgery and Oncology, R.R. Vreden Russian Research Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedics, Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Samuel Wu
- San Francisco Orthopaedic Residency Program, San Francisco, California
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