Discitis of the spine: what is it, symptoms, causes, treatments

Discitis of the spine – a disease of an inflammatory nature, affecting the intervertebral discs. It is quite rare. Can affect people at any age, but children under 8 years old is diagnosed very rarely. If the patient is suspected discitis of the spine, treatment and prevention is carried out immediately.

The causes of pathology

The main cause of inflammation is infection, penetrating into the vertebrae. Discitis can be an independent disease or be a postoperative complication caused by surgical treatment of pathologies of the spine (1-2% of cases). Infection is possible if instruments do not pass the required disinfection or violated other rules of operation. Mostly discitis is diagnosed after conducting a discography, lumbar discectomy, lumbar puncture, surgical intervention for elimination of penetrating wounds.

Discitis most often found in smokers with the experience, drug addicts, people with weak immunity, suffering from arthritis, diabetes, anorexia or obesity.

Also agents are able to get to the vertebrae with blood flow from the respiratory and urogenital systems. To cause the development of discitis of the spine is capable of a variety of strains of bacteria:

• Golden and epidermal staphylococci (especially the latter often causes postoperative discitis);
• Escherichia coli;
• Pseudomonas aeruginosa usually found in injecting drug into the veins;
• Haemophilus influenzae Bacillus (also it is called the Bacillus of Pfeiffer) – mainly provokes juvenile form;
• Proteus.

Classification

Depending on the etiology and clinical presentation of disease distinguish discitis:

• Septic (very rare form) – the direct seeding of pathogenic microorganisms in the tissues of the spine;
• Lumbar inflammation is restricted to the lumbar discs and does not affect the adjacent;
• Osteomyelitis (the most common) – there is a destruction of bone tissue;
• Idiopathic – the cause of the pathology is unknown;
• Spondylodiscitis (part of physicians attribute it to a separate disease) – the intervertebral discs are exposed to damage from both sides.

Septic discitis is divided into:

• Infectious;
• Hematogenous;
• The postoperative.

Clinical manifestations

Symptoms of discitis may vary depending on its shape. But there are common signs. First, the patient experiences chills and fever. Later the site of the lesion detected pain. At first they are moderate, but are of increasing nature and aggravated by movement. Can radiate to the perineum, abdomen, hip, thigh. Pain syndrome is not terminated within 14-30 days.

In infectious discitis nearby muscles spazmiruyutsya, which is limited to motor activity.

• See also: Kyphosis of the spine.

If the pathology spreads to the spinal canal, it is often compressed by the spinal cord, and inflammation of the affected nerves. This may experience muscle weakness, disturbed function of internal organs, including the process of urination. In the affected area possible numbness and tingling. Radicular syndrome that develops when damage to the nerves, accompanied by breach or loss of sensation and reflex activity. The characteristics of spondylodiscitis:

• Pain;
• Fever;
• Exhaustion;
• Paresis;
• Paralysis.

• See also: stiff neck – how to remove tension from the muscles.

Diagnosis

For the initial diagnosis the patient is sent for x-rays. The photographs will be visible destroyed end plates of the vertebrae and a narrowed intervertebral disk space.

If you want to get a more accurate visualization, prescribe an MRI or CT scan. Magnetic resonance imaging will determine the size of the swelling and find out whether the spread of pathological process on other organs, and CT scan will evaluate the size of lesions which can not fix the othermethods. In some cases, you may need blood tests.

Therapeutic methods

In the treatment of discitis is used:

• Immobilization;
• Antibiotics;
• Operation.

Immobilization

The spine for a while (about 2 weeks) fixed in the correct position. For this purpose, use a plastic vest, tight corset or vosmibratov bus. Although this method does not destroy the infection, it relieves pain and restores motor ability.

Antibiotic therapy

More recently, the use of antibiotics in the treatment of inflammatory infection in the spine was controversial. Now these drugs are required. Specific drug choose based on the result of the bacterial analysis. If you are not able to identify the pathogen, used antibiotics broad-spectrum.

Surgical treatment

The need for surgical intervention arises from the fourth part of the patients. Surgical treatment is prescribed for:

• Vague diagnosis, if there is suspicion of cancer;
• The need to perform decompression of the nerve endings;
• Necessary, drainage of an abscess;
• The need to stabilize the spine.

During the operation, remove infected tissue. Sometimes the set graft. Methods of operation:

• Anterior discectomy;
• The corpectomy;
• Back laminectomy.

• See also: Listes spine.

Prevention

To prevent the development of discitis of the spine, you must:

• In a timely manner to treat infectious diseases, respiratory and urogenital systems;
• To provide sufficient, but not excessive, physical activity;
• Perform exercises that increase flexibility of the back;
• To eat rationally, to provide the organism with all necessary vitamins and minerals;
• Not SuperCool;
• To strengthen the immune system.

If you need surgery, you need to choose a clinic with a good reputation, which strictly follows all the rules of antisepsis.