ABSTRACT
Discitis is an infection of the intervertebral disc space that, in adults, is most often caused by an invasive procedure; spontaneous discitis is uncommon in adults. Osteomyelitis typically occurs from the progression of discitis to adjacent vertebral endplates; however, the medical literature frequently groups discitis and osteomyelitis as a single entity. The spine segments most susceptible to spondylodiscitis and osteomyelitis are the lumbar vertebrae, followed by the thoracic and then the cervical vertebrae, although tuberculosis more commonly affects the thoracic spine. Epidural abscesses are frequently caused by untreated osteomyelitis or discitis, and they involve collections of microorganisms, destroyed tissue, and white blood cells. The most common presenting symptom is pain in the area of spinal involvement. Pain associated with spinal infection is frequently exacerbated by movement and radiates to the extremities; it may worsen at night. Plain radiographs of any affected spine segments should be obtained to identify disc space narrowing, endplate changes, and vertebral body destruction.
