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Conservative therapy of atlantoaxial osteomyelitis. A case report
1Department of Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Quebec, Canada.
Study Design:
A rare case of C1-C2 vertebral osteomyelitis treated conservatively is described. The radiologic findings as well as the follow-up evaluation are reported.
Objective:
To increase knowledge about the pathogenesis and treatment of vertebral osteomyelitis in the high cervical region.
Summary Of Background Data:
This is one of the first cases reported of successful conservative treatment of osteomyelitis at this level.
Methods:
In a 58-year-old man with lumbar staphylococcal infection, a subsequent cervical infection developed. Because the lumbar spondylitis was treated promptly, the cervical osteomyelitis was treated at a very early stage of development.
Results:
Operative decompression is the treatment most often used in osteomyelitis at the C1-C2 level. This is an extremely unusual circumstance in which early treatment of the infection negated the need for surgery.
Conclusion:
Conservative treatment of osteomyelitis at the C1-C2 level can be efficacious in the correct setting.