Spinal infection

Signs & symptoms

• Severe localised spinal pain.
• Malaise.
• Fever.
• Night pain/ sweats.
• High inflammatory markers.
• Loss of appetite.
• Potential neurological symptoms.
• Bony collapse.
• Difficulty walking.
• Muscle spasms.

Risk factors

• Alcoholism/ IVDA/ smoker.
• Recent spinal surgery/ injection.
• Immunosuppressed:- DM/ RA/ HIV/Malignancy.
• Poor living conditions.
• Males> females.
• Age: children or over 50 more affected.
• Renal impairment.
• Recent bacterial/ fungal/ viral infection.
• Sites: TB more common in upper lumbar/lower thoracic. Discitis can occur at any site but more common in lumbar region.

Discuss with on call Orthopaedics / refer to ED