Diagnosis and management of pediatric spinal infections

Saleh ES, Vasileff CC, Omari AM, et al. (July 30, 2021) Diagnosis and management of pediatric spinal infections. cureus 13(7): e16748. doi: 10.7759 / cureus.16748

Commentary

The prevalence of pediatric spinal infections has increased in frequency, pathogenicity, and degree of soft tissue involvement over the past several years.

There has also been a resurgence of several types of infections, including tuberculosis, fungal, and viral pathogens.

Diagnosis can be achieved with a detailed history, physical examination, laboratory tests, and imaging studies, while pathology that mimics infection requires a more invasive approach to diagnosis, including core, open biopsies.

Treatment of pediatric discitis, spondylodiscitis, pyogenic spondylitis, spinal epidural, and intramedullary abscesses can be complex, and while many infections can be treated nonsurgically with antibiotic therapy, some of the more widespread infections require surgical management.

Timely diagnosis is important because it allows for the initiation of appropriate antimicrobial therapy and reduces the complexity of subsequent surgical intervention.