Spontaneous emphysematous osteomyelitis of the spine: A case report

Spontaneous emphysematous osteomyelitis of the spine is a very rare but severe condition caused by gas-forming microorganisms. We present the case of a 41-year-old obese male patient presenting at the Emergency Department with diabetic ketoacidosis, fever, and difficulty in walking. computed tomogra...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Radiology case reports 2020-09, Vol.15 (9), p.1552-1554
Main Authors: Di Stasi, Martina, Pontillo, Giuseppe, Bartolini, Antonella, Elefante, Andrea, Muccio, Carmine Franco
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Case Report
Computed Tomography
Diabetes Mellitus
Emphysematous Osteomyelitis
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Spine
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Spontaneous emphysematous osteomyelitis of the spine is a very rare but severe condition caused by gas-forming microorganisms. We present the case of a 41-year-old obese male patient presenting at the Emergency Department with diabetic ketoacidosis, fever, and difficulty in walking. computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging of the spine revealed bone marrow edema and intraosseous gas collections at the level of the fourth and fifth lumbar metameres, suggesting an osteomyelitis sustained by gas-forming microorganisms, which was then confirmed by the isolation of Klebsiella pneumonia in blood culture. Imaging plays a central role for the diagnosis of emphysematous osteomyelitis: the presence of multiple intraosseous gas collections of variable size, especially in patients with specific risk factors, is highly suggestive of an infection caused by gas-forming pathogens. Being familiar with this peculiar neuroradiological appearance is essential to ensure an early diagnosis and a timely antimicrobial therapy, which can considerably ameliorate the prognosis.
ISSN:1930-0433
1930-0433
DOI:10.1016/j.radcr.2020.05.078