[Clinical characteristics of spinal cord injury caused by infection]

Infections account for 3% of all non-traumatic spinal cord injuries. The demographic distribution and clinical course are still not fully understood in these patients.

The aim of this study was to determine the clinical-epidemiological characteristics and clinical course in patients with infectious spinal cord injury referred to our centre.

A retrospective study (over the period 1997-2003) was carried out. Variables examined included age, sex, type of injury, aetiology, causing agent, ASIA classification on admission and discharge.

N = 27 (8% of the total number of non-traumatic spinal cord injuries). Mean age: 37.3 years (range: 14-75). Higher prevalence was found between the ages of 20 and 39 years (48.1%) and in males (70.4%). A prevalence of dorsal injuries (59.3%) was also observed. On hospital admission most of the injuries were incomplete (70.4%) and this figure increased to 77.8% on discharge. Spondylodiscitis was the most frequent cause (51.9%) and Staphylococcus aureus was found to be the most common microbiological causing agent. The greatest prevalence of complete injuries was observed in cases of dorsal injuries (43.75%). All cases of tuberculosis were situated in the dorsal region (p < 0.05).

In our care centre, non-traumatic spinal cord injuries of an infectious origin seem to be most often caused by spondylodiscitis due to S. aureus, with a higher incidence in the dorsal region. They predominantly affect males in their thirties and forties, and usually give rise to incomplete injuries.