How is osteomyelitis of the spine diagnosed?

An x-ray may show the location of the infection, any bony alterations or changes, and loss of intervertebral disc height. Your doctor may also order a CT or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan to further evaluate your soft spinal tissues, including your spinal nerves.

What does osteomyelitis look like on CT scan?

CT provides excellent multiplanar reconstructions of the axial images allowing delineation of even the most subtle osseous changes. In chronic osteomyelitis, CT demonstrates abnormal thickening of the affected cortical bone, with sclerotic changes, encroachment of the medullary cavity, and chronic draining sinus.

Can a CT scan detect osteomyelitis?

Intramedullary gas is an ancillary sign of osteomyelitis that is also best seen on CT (9). However, the evaluation of osteomyelitis with CT is limited by its poorer soft tissue resolution compared to MRI. CT is unable to demonstrate bone marrow oedema, which means that a normal CT does not exclude early osteomyelitis.

Can osteomyelitis be in the spine?

Vertebral osteomyelitis is the most common form of vertebral infection. It can develop from direct open spinal trauma, infections in surrounding areas and from bacteria that spreads to a vertebra from the blood.

Is osteomyelitis contagious?

Depends: Vertebral osteomyelitis by itself is usually not contagious. If associated with tuberculosis or other systemic infection can get infection from secretions of pulmonary component of disease. MRSA (methicilllin resistent staphylococcus aureus ) can involve bone and have skin lesions that can be contagious.

What is treatment for infection in the bone?

Bone Infection Treatment Options. Antibiotics, alone, are rarely curative. Treatment consists of surgical debridement (removal) of infected and non-viable bone, local high dose local antimicrobial therapy via antibiotic beads, intravenous antibiotics and soft tissue reconstruction as needed.

Can you have a bone infection?

Osteomyelitis is an infection of the bone, a rare but serious condition. Bones can become infected in a number of ways: Infection in one part of the body may spread through the bloodstream into the bone, or an open fracture or surgery may expose the bone to infection.

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How is osteomyelitis of the spine diagnosed? An x-ray may show the location of the infection, any bony alterations or changes, and loss of intervertebral disc height. Your doctor may also order a CT or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan to further evaluate your soft spinal tissues, including your spinal nerves. What does osteomyelitis look…