Evaluation of patients with vertebral osteomyelitis diagnosis: Ten years of experience

Aim: An infection of the vertebrae and intervertebral disc is known as vertebral osteomyelitis (VO). Examining the demographics, comorbidity variables, etiologies, significant laboratory results, and diagnostic and therapeutic techniques of VO cases that were monitored and treated over a ten-year period was the goal of this study.
Material and Methods: Demographic information, clinical symptoms, chronic illnesses, history of vertebral operations, involved vertebral levels, diagnostic methods, leukocyte count (WBC), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), serum C-reactive protein level (CRP), amount of hematocrit (HTC), results of microbiological cultures, and agent-specific serology results of the cases followed up with VO diagnosis between January 1, 2014 and January 1, 2024 were collected and analyzed from patient files.

Results: The mean age of the 125 cases included in the study was 57.5±13.8 years, and the M/F ratio was 1/1.7. The presenting complaints were pain (100%), neurological symptoms (60%), fever (15.2%), fatigue (12%), night sweats (4.8%), and weight loss (0.8%). The cases were diagnosed by imaging methods (92%) or microbiological methods (8%). Comorbidities observed included diabetes (20.8%), renal disease (10.4%), rheumatological disease (3.2%), malignancy (1.6%), history of spinal surgery (31.2%), trauma (13.6%), urinary tract infection (7.2%), nonspecific infection (6.4%), and a history of cerebrovascular events (0.8%). The average response time for ESR and CRP related to pain was found to be around the third week.

Discussion: Evaluating pain symptoms, planning imaging methods, confirming diagnosis through biopsy, and initiating pathogen-targeted treatment will be significant steps in enhancing the success of VO treatment. ESR and CRP serve as early indicators for follow-up.