Typhoid osteomyelitis of the lumbar spine

A 25-year-old Nepali man presented with a 20-day history of fever associated with a lower backache. Physical examination found tenderness over the lower lumbar vertebrae. Magnetic resonance imaging following intravenous contrast injection showed enhancement of the L4 and L5 vertebrae, particularly pronounced around the intervening disc, and areas of endplate erosion. Extra-vertebral enhancement and a small subligamentous anterior collection were also noted. Computed tomography-guided needle aspiration was performed at the level of L4/5 disc material and culture of the specimen grew Salmonella typhi sensitive to ampicillin, ciprofloxacin, and ceftriaxone. The patient received intravenous ampicillin 2 g per 4 hours for 6 weeks. The back pain resolved completely and the patient was discharged. Typhoid osteomyelitis of the spine should be considered in the differential diagnosis in patients from endemic areas who present with fever and backache.