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Post-traumatic Cervical Osteomyelitis Masquerading as Neck Strain Following Minor Trauma: A Case Report
Chinelo G Meniru1, Sheri P Walls1, Nkechi Ukoha1
1Internal Medicine, Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center, Athens, USA.
Cureus
|September 2, 2025
Summary
A rare case of osteomyelitis (bone infection) in the cervical spine occurred in a healthy woman after minor trauma. This highlights the need for broad differential diagnoses in persistent neck pain, even in low-risk individuals.
Area of Science:
- Medical Case Study
- Infectious Disease
- Neurosurgery
Background:
- Osteomyelitis, a bone infection, typically presents with known risk factors like trauma, surgery, or immunocompromised states.
- Atypical presentations in individuals without significant risk factors are uncommon but warrant consideration.
Observation:
- A 41-year-old dog groomer with iron deficiency anemia, but otherwise healthy, experienced neck pain and hand numbness after a minor work-related incident.
- Imaging revealed C6-C7 destructive changes suggestive of osteomyelitis, leading to cervical kyphosis and spinal cord compression.
Findings:
- Neurosurgical intervention identified a phlegmon and small abscess.
- Despite negative bone biopsy and blood cultures (likely due to prior antibiotics), a six-week course of empiric antibiotics was administered based on clinical suspicion and surgical findings.
Implications:
- This case underscores the importance of a broad differential diagnosis for persistent neck pain, especially following minor trauma.
- Recognizing atypical osteomyelitis presentations in low-risk individuals can lead to earlier diagnosis and improved patient outcomes.
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