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Cervical facet joint septic arthritis: a case report
James M Stecher1, Georges Y El-Khoury, Patrick W Hitchon
1Department of Radiology, University of Iowa, USA.
The Iowa Orthopaedic Journal
|November 4, 2010
Summary
Facet joint septic arthritis is a rare spinal infection. This case highlights cervical spine involvement, emphasizing MRI
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Infectious Diseases
- Radiology
Background:
- Facet joint septic arthritis is a rare but severe infection.
- It can lead to significant morbidity from local or systemic spread.
- The lumbar spine is most commonly affected.
Observation:
- A case of cervical spine facet joint septic arthritis is presented.
- The patient experienced neck and shoulder pain, unresponsive to initial treatment.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was crucial for diagnosis.
Findings:
- The infection likely resulted from hematogenous spread in a patient with diabetes mellitus.
- MRI effectively identified the infection and associated epidural/paraspinal abscesses.
- Delayed diagnosis is common without awareness of predisposing factors and symptoms.
Implications:
- Early diagnosis and treatment are vital to prevent complications.
- MRI is the preferred imaging modality for septic arthritis.
- Increasing incidence may be linked to patient factors and improved diagnostics.
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