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Infectious spondylodiscitis and kyphosis correction in an infant: a case report
Sara Romano1, Francesca Vittoria2, Elisabetta Cattaruzzi2
1Department of Medicine, Surgery, and Health Sciences -University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy. sara.romano17@gmail.com.
Insights
Neonatal infectious spondylodiscitis, a rare infant bone infection, can cause severe kyphosis. Prompt surgical intervention using a combined anterior and posterior approach offers stable correction and good aesthetic outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Orthopedics
- Infectious Diseases
- Spinal Surgery
Background:
- Neonatal infectious spondylodiscitis is a rare vertebral infection.
- It presents with non-specific symptoms, delaying diagnosis and treatment.
- Delayed treatment leads to vertebral destruction and severe complications.
Observation:
- A 4-week-old infant developed infectious spondylodiscitis, destroying the T12 vertebral body.
- At 6 months, the infant had over 50 Cobb degrees of thoracolumbar kyphosis.
- A single surgery with combined anterior and posterior approaches was performed.
Findings:
- The surgical intervention resulted in stable correction of the kyphosis.
- Follow-up at 9 years showed good aesthetic appearance.
- Neonatal spondylodiscitis can cause kyphosis comparable to congenital types.
Implications:
- Casts and tutors are often ineffective for treating this condition.
- Prompt surgical intervention is recommended for neonatal spondylodiscitis.
- A double anterior and posterior surgical approach is optimal for managing this condition.
Background:
Neonatal infectious spondylodiscitis is a rare bony infection with atypical clinical presentation and non-specific systemic symptoms. Diagnosis and treatment are often delayed resulting in vertebral destruction and severe complications. We retrospectively reviewed the case of an infant with infectious spondylodiscitis resulting in T12 body destruction and marked angular kyphosis.
Case-Report:
A 4-week-old infant developed an infectious spondylodiscitis resulting in destruction of the T12 vertebral body and involvement of disc between T12 and L1. At 6 months of age, X-ray showed a marked thoracolumbar angular kyphosis above 50 Cobb degrees. Therefore, the patient underwent single time surgery with double anterior and posterior approach. At 9 years follow up, clinical and radiological findings show a stable correction with good aesthetic appearance.
Conclusion:
Neonatal spondylodiscitis could lead to marked kyphosis similar to the congenital one. Since treatment with casts and tutors is often inefficacious, prompt surgery should be considered. The double anterior and posterior approach is the best option in this condition.
