Fine needle diagnosis in lumbar osteomyelitis

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Orthopedic Surgery
• Radiology

Background:

• Lumbar vertebral body and disk infection, a cause of low back pain, is uncommon but frequently observed in individuals with a history of drug addiction.
• Radiographic imaging reveals characteristic signs of infection in the lumbar vertebrae and adjacent intervertebral discs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a simple, cost-effective, and well-accepted diagnostic method for lumbar vertebral and disk infections.
• To evaluate the utility of fine needle aspiration for identifying the causative pathogens in these infections.

Main Methods:

• A fine needle aspiration procedure is performed under local anesthesia.
• Saline is injected through the needle, followed by aspiration of the fluid.
• The entire needle-syringe unit is sent to the bacteriology department for analysis.

Main Results:

• The diagnostic method is simple, cost-effective, and well-tolerated by patients.
• The procedure can be effectively performed on an outpatient basis.
• Pseudomonas species are frequently identified as the causative agent of infection.

Conclusions:

• Fine needle aspiration is a practical and efficient diagnostic tool for lumbar vertebral and disk infections.
• This method facilitates timely identification of pathogens, aiding in appropriate treatment.
• The outpatient nature of the procedure enhances patient convenience and reduces healthcare costs.