The term cold abscess refers to an abscess [An Abscess is a collection of liquefied tissue(pus) in the body] where typical signs of abscess [warmth, redness, tenderness,] are absent. The prefix cold indicates that the abscess is not hot because that is the usual case. Thus a cold abscess is not accompanied by the classical […]
Infections
What is Spinal Tumor Syndrome?
Spinal tumor syndrome is not a condition in itself. It is a clinical label to the patient’s condition with many differentials in the offering. Most often, the term is used in cases of spine tuberculosis where there is no apparent osseous lesion. To understand spinal tumor syndrome one must first know about typical presentation of […]
Pyogenic Vertebral osteomyelitis Presentation and Treatment
Pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis is a type of spinal infection which may result from direct trauma, spread of infection from adjacent structures or hematogenous spread from distant focus of infection. It can have devastating complications if untreated which could be pathological fracture , epidural infection and compression of the neural structures. Vertebral osteomyelitis is considered uncommon, […]
IDSA 2015 Clinical Practice Guidelines for Native Vertebral Osteomyelitis in Adults
The guidelines are published by Infectious Disease Society of America. These guidelines include evidence and opinion-based recommendations for the diagnosis and management of patients with native vertebral osteomyelitis treated with antimicrobial therapy, with or without surgical intervention. Native vertebral osteomyelitis in adults is often the result of hematogenous seeding of the adjacent disc space from […]
Pott’s Paraplegia and Qudriplegia or Spinal Tuberculosis with Neural Involvement
Spinal tuberculosis of spine is the most common form of skeletal tuberculosis accounting for 50 percent of osteo-articular tuberculosis. Neural compression in spinal tuberculosis may lead to tetraparesis-tetraplegia or paraparesis-paraplegia. Pathology of Neurological Complications in Spinal Tuberculosis Neurological complication is observed mostly with dorsal spine affection because Most commonly affected Narrow canal Anterior longitudinal ligaments […]
Pyogenic Infection of Spine
Pyogenic infection or bacterial infection of the he spine is rare but it has potential for long-term morbidity. About 2-8% of overall pyogenic infection in the musculoskeletal system involves spine. It is more common in males and has a bimodal distribution. Males are more often affected than females. Age distribution is bimodal. The peak of […]
Pyomyositis or Muscle Abscess – Causes and Treatment
Pyomyositis is characterized by suppuration within skeletal muscles, manifesting as single or multiple abscesses. It is also known as tropical pyomyositis as it affected tropical people more commonly. Pyomyositis is common in tropical regions but is rare in temperate climates but showing rise and association with HIV infection or other immunosuppressive conditions, including diabetes mellitus, […]
Infectious Myositis Causes and Treatment
Infectious myositis is an acute, subacute, or chronic infection of skeletal muscle. It was considered a tropical disease once but is now seen in temperate climates as well, particularly with the emergence of HIV infection. Viruses, bacteria (including mycobacteria), fungi, and parasites can cause infectious myositis. Infectious myositis has a male predominance and is typically […]
Antitubercular Chemotherapy in Musculoskeletal Tuberculosis
Antitubercular chemotherapy is the mainstay of the treatment of osteoarticular tuberculosis. It is complemented by rest, nutritional support and splinting, as necessary. The drugs and regimens are fundamentally similar to those for pulmonary TB. But there is a lack of consensus on the appropriate duration of treatment. Overview of Osteoarticular Tuberculosis The spine is probably […]
Drug Resistant Tuberculosis – Types and Treatment
A person is said to have drug resistant tuberculosis if the tuberculous bacteria that the person is infected with, will not respond to, and are resistant to, at least one of the main antitubercular drugs. Drug resistant tuberculosis occurs when bacteria become resistant to the drugs used to treat TB. This means that the drug […]