Vertebral osteomyelitis: clinical features and diagnosis

We aimed to describe clinical and diagnostic features of vertebral osteomyelitis for differential diagnosis and treatment. This is a prospective observational study performed between 2002 and 2012 in Ankara Numune Education and Research Hospital in Ankara, Turkey. All the patients with vertebral osteomyelitis were followed for from 6 months to 3 years. In total, 214 patients were included in the study, 113 out of 214 (53%) were female. Out of 214 patients, 96 (45%) had brucellar vertebral osteomyelitis (BVO), 63 (29%) had tuberculous vertebral osteomyelitis (TVO), and 55 (26%) had pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis (PVO). Mean number of days between onset of symptoms and establishment of diagnosis was greater with the patients with TVO (266 days) than BVO (115 days) or PVO (151 days, p <0.001). In blood cultures, Brucella spp. were isolated from 35 of 96 BVO patients (35%). Among 55 PVO patients, the aetiological agent was isolated in 11 (20%) patients. For tuberculin skin test >15 mm, sensitivity was 0.66, specificity was 0.97, positive predictive value was 0.89, negative predictive value was 0.88, and receiver operating characteristics area was 0.8. Tuberculous and brucellar vertebral osteomyelitis remained the leading causes of vertebral osteomyelitis with delayed diagnosis. In differential diagnosis of vertebral osteomyelitis, consumption of unpasteurized cheese, dealing with husbandry, sweating, arthralgia, hepatomegaly, elevated alanine transaminase, and lumbar involvement in magnetic resonance imaging were found to be predictors of BVO, thoracic involvement in magnetic resonance imaging and tuberculin skin test > 15 mm were found to be predictors of TVO, and history of spinal surgery and leucocytosis were found to be predictors of PVO.     

经皮椎体骨水泥强化术后术区继发结核感染3例报道并文献复习

目的 报道3例经皮椎体骨水泥强化术后术区继发结核感染病例,并结合文献探讨其发生机制、临床特征和治疗措施。方法 回顾性分析3例经皮椎体骨水泥强化术后术区继发结核感染患者的临床资料。在中国知网、万方数据、维普数据库及PubMed中,以“经皮椎体骨水泥强化术”“经皮椎体成形术”“经皮椎体后凸成形术”“脊柱结核”以及“percutaneous vertebral augmentation”“percutaneous vertebroplasty”“percutaneous kyphoplasty”“tuberculous spondylitis”为中、英文关键词,检索2020年12月前有关经皮椎体骨水泥强化术后术区继发结核感染的相关文献,共纳入8篇9例英文文献报道。结合本文3例诊治过程,总结其发生机制、临床特征和治疗措施。结果 本组3例患者中,2例在抗结核药物治疗基础上辅助手术干预后随访12个月达到临床治愈标准,1例在计划翻修手术前死于肺部感染。结合文献报道的9例,共12例经皮椎体骨水泥强化术后术区继发结核感染患者,男3例、女9例,年龄54~83岁。12例患者均因术后再发背部剧烈疼痛就诊,伴或不伴低热症状,红细胞沉降率、C反应蛋白均有不同程度升高。影像学提示骨水泥周围骨质吸收、骨质破坏、椎间隙变窄及椎旁脓肿形成等脊柱感染征象。2例患者死于围手术期并发症;10例患者采用规范抗结核药物治疗基础上辅以手术治疗,术后随访10~18个月达到临床治愈标准。结论 经皮椎体骨水泥强化术后术区继发结核感染在临床较为罕见,其发生机制尚存争议,早期识别尤为关键。治疗常以规范抗结核药物辅以手术治疗预后较好。     

Microbiological diagnosis of vertebral osteomyelitis: relevance of second percutaneous biopsy following initial negative biopsy and limited yield of post-biopsy blood cultures

The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the microbiological diagnosis yield of post-biopsy blood cultures (PBBCs) and second percutaneous needle biopsy (PNB) following an initial negative biopsy in vertebral osteomyelitis (VO) without bacteremia. A retrospective multicenter study was performed. Patients with VO, pre-biopsy negative blood culture(s), ≥1 PNB, and ≥1 PBBC (0–4 h) were included. One hundred and sixty-nine PNBs (136 first and 33 following initial negative biopsy) were performed for 136 patients (median age = 58 years, sex ratio M/F = 1.9). First and second PNBs had a similar yield: 43.4 % (59/136) versus 39.4 % (13/33), respectively. Only two PBBCs (1.1 %) led to a microbiological diagnosis. The strategy with positive first PNB and second PNB following an initial negative result led to microbiological diagnosis in 79.6 % (74/93) of cases versus 44.1 % (60/136) for the strategy with only one biopsy. In the multivariate analysis, young age (odds ratio, OR [95 % confidence interval (CI)]?=?0.98 [0.97; 0.99] per 1 year increase, p?=?0.02) and >1 sample (OR?=?2.4 ([1.3; 4.4], p?=?0.007)) were independently associated with positive PNB. To optimize microbiological diagnosis in vertebral osteomyelitis, performing a second PNB (after an initial negative biopsy) could lead to a microbiological diagnosis in nearly 80 % of patients. PBBC appears to be limited in microbiological diagnosis.     

Diagnostic yield of a PCR assay in focal complications of brucellosis

In order to evaluate the diagnostic yield of a PCR assay for patients with focal complications of brucellosis, we studied by PCR and by conventional microbiological techniques 34 nonblood samples from 32 patients with different focal forms of brucellosis. The samples from patients with brucellosis were paired to an equal number of control samples from the same locations of patients whose illnesses had different etiologies. Thirty-three of the 34 nonblood samples (97%) from the brucellosis patients were positive by PCR, whereas Brucella spp. were isolated from only 29.4% of the conventional cultures. For 11.4% of the patients, the confirmatory serological tests were either negative or showed titers below the diagnostic range. Two patients (6.2%) from the control group, both with tuberculous vertebral osteomyelitis, had a positive PCR result. The brucella PCR of blood from these two patients was also positive, and the two strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolated were analyzed by the brucella PCR, with no evidence of amplification. These results show that the PCR assay is far more sensitive than conventional cultures, and this, coupled with its speed and reduction in risk to laboratory workers, makes this technique a very useful tool for the diagnosis of focal complications of brucellosis.     

Comparison of the diagnostic values of biopsies of the pleura and cytologic evaluation of pleural fluids.

Results of a comparison of the diagnostic efficacy of percutaneous needle biopsy of the parietal pleura with that of cytologic examination of pleural fluid sediment obtained concurrently from 166 patients with benign or cancerous pleural disorders are reported. Of 44 patients with confirmatory evidence of cancer involving the pleural surfaces, 43 had positive cytologic findings, whereas pleural biopsies were diagnostic in only 16 cases. Of a total of 122 patients with benign pleural diseases, cytology provided the diagnosis in two cases of eosinophilic pleurisy, and pleural biopsy contributed the diagnosis in four of ten cases of tuberculosis. The data indicate that percutaneous needle biopsy of the parietal pleura is less efficacious in the diagnosis of malignant pleural disease than is cytologic evaluation of the fluid sediment, whereas in the diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy, pleural biopsy proved superior.     

Culture of per-wound bone specimens: a simplified approach for the medical management of diabetic foot osteomyelitis

Surgical percutaneous bone biopsy specimen after a 14-day antibiotic-free period represents the gold standard of care for diabetic foot osteomyelitis but may be difficult to implement in many institutions. We evaluate a simplified strategy based on the results of per-wound bone specimen culture. For that purpose, we retrospectively reviewed the charts of 80 consecutive patients with diabetic osteomyelitis and bone sample obtained via the wound after a careful debridement. The outcome was defined as favourable if there was a complete healing of the wound with no sign of infection and stable or improved bone X-ray 6 months after antibiotic therapy completion. Culture of bone specimens was positive in 96% of patients, although half of the patients did receive a course of antimicrobials within 14 days of the bone specimen being obtained. A total of 129 bacterial isolates were obtained from bone cultures with a mean of 1.6 ± 1 isolates per patient (Staphylococcus aureus: 33%; coagulase-negative staphylococci: 14%; streptococci: 9%; enterococci: 12%; corynebacteria: 4%; Gram-negative bacilli: 20%; anaerobes: 4%). Forty-six percent of cultures were monomicrobial. The mean duration of follow-up from diagnosis was 17 ± 1 months. Six months after discontinuation of antibiotics, six patients (7.5%) had died, nine were considered as therapeutic failures and 65 were considered as cured. Fifty-four of these 65 patients had follow-up data available at 1 year and remained in remission. In conclusion, a simplified procedure based on the culture of bone sample obtained via the ulcer after a careful debridement of the wound is effective in the medical management of diabetic foot osteomyelitis.     

Hemoglobinopathy and pattern of musculoskeletal infection in children

BACKGROUND: The bacterial pathogens associated with osteomyelitis in patients with hemoglobinopathy (HbSS) are controversial. There is insufficient data on the common musculoskeletal (MSS) infections in patients with hemoglobinopathies and the associated bacterial pathogens in Nigeria. OBJECTIVES: To identify the common MSS infections in children and the associated bacterial pathogens, especially in those with abnormal hemoglobin genotypes. METHODS: A retrospective case review was done of pediatric and adolescent patients admitted with bone and soft tissue infections over a seven-year period in a Nigerian teaching hospital. RESULTS: One-hundred-nineteen patients were studied, with mean age 7.9+/-5.6 years and male-female ratio of 1.3:1. Out of 78 patients with known genotype, 62.8% had HbAA, 20.5% HbSS, 9% HbAS, and 7.7% HbAC. The most common MSS infections were osteomyelitis (64.7%), pyomyositis (17.6%), and septic arthritis (10.1%). Others were cellulitis (5.9%), tuberculous arthritis (0.8%), and necrotizing fasciitis (0.8%). Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) was isolated from 62% of chronic osteomyelitis (COM) and 58% of pyomyositis, while gram-negative bacilli accounted for 34% and 42%, respectively. S. aureus was isolated from 63% of patients with HbAA, 40% with HbSS, 58% with HbAS, and 58% with HbAC, while gram-negative bacilli accounted for 33%, 60%, 33%, and 33%, respectively. Osteomyelitis and pyomyositis appear to be similarly common in patients with and without HbSS (RR 1.29; 95% CI 0.47-3.50). Osteomyelitis and soft tissue infections in general also appear to be equally common in them (RR 1.16; 95% CI 0.39-4.11). However, osteomyelitis appears to be more common among patients with HbSS than those with HbAA (RR 2.29; 95% CI 0.58-8.99) and those with other hemoglobinopathies (RR 2.23; 95% CI 0.66-7.49) CONCLUSIONS: Osteomyelitis, pyomyositis and septic arthritis are common MSS infections in hospitalized pediatric and adolescent patients, while tuberculous arthritis is uncommon. The most common bacterial pathogen in these infections is S. aureus-even in patients with HbSS and other hemoglobinopathies. Gram-negative bacilli are important causes of MSS infections in hospitalized children with HbSS. HbSS may be an independent risk factor for osteomyelitis in these patients.     

Peptostreptococcal vertebral osteomyelitis.

The clinical course of a patient with vertebral osteomyelitis caused by Peptostreptococcus micros is described. The organism was isolated on two occasions from lumbar vertebral biopsies and was visualized in histologic sections of one of the biopsies. The patient had no apparent infections at other body sites. The infection was eradicated after 6 weeks of intravenous clindamycin therapy.     

Diagnostic value of percutaneous biopsy of the renal masses. 73 cases

The aim of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic value of percutaneous biopsies of renal masses with comparison of pathological data between the biopsies and the surgical specimens. Thus, we retrospectively studied 73 biopsies of patients, who were referred to our institution between 1995 and 1997. The mean age of the patients was 60 +/- 14 years with a male predominance (67%). Twenty per cent of the biopsies were negative. Eleven per cent of the biopsies were benign lesions (oncocytoma, angiomyolipoma, infectious lesions). For renal cell carcinomas, the correlation coefficient between biopsy histology and final pathology was 0.87. Conversely, it was only 0.36 for the Führman grading. Nevertheless, low (1-2) and high (3-4) grades were accurately separated (0.92). We conclude that the percutaneous biopsy is a useful tool for diagnosis of renal masses.     

Vertebral osteomyelitis with a rare etiology diagnosed by fine‐needle aspiration cytology

Invasive fungal infections are rare in immunocompromised individuals, but are not uncommon in immunologically compromised patients. Bone involvement by these infections, though exceedingly rare, may occur due to direct extension of the infection from a neighboring organ or due to hematogenous dissemination in critically ill patients. Still rarer is the invasive aspergillosis involving either the vertebral body or the intervertebral disc with extension into the extradural space as an abscess. We report one such case of vertebral osteomyelitis due to Aspergillus diagnosed by FNAC in a well‐controlled diabetic patient who presented with nonspecific symptoms and in whom a clinical and radiological diagnosis of Pott's spine was considered. The present case stresses the importance of early cytologic diagnosis of vertebral Aspergillus osteomyelitis, which in conjunction with appropriate timely medical and surgical treatment, offers good recovery without much sequelae or threat to life. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Vertebral infections caused by Haemophilus aphrophilus: case report and review

Objective   To review in detail clinical presentation, bacteriologic findings, associated conditions and treatment of Haemophilus aphrophilus vertebral osteomyelitis and to compare them to a case we report herein.
Methods   A Medline (National Library of Medicine) search of the literature was performed by using the key words H. aphrophilus, spondylodiscitis, discitis, and vertebral osteomyelitis. The references of the case reports were examined for additional cases, especially those cited in older articles that had not been entered onto the bibliographic database.
Results   A case report of spondylodiscitis due to H. aphrophilus in a 35-year-old patient with a history of dental abscess 7 months before admission is presented. The patient responded well to treatment with ceftriaxone and ciprofloxacin. To date, only 14 cases of H. aphrophilus vertebral osteomyelitis have been reported. They are usually reported in middle-aged patients, usually male. Most recent cases have been treated with fluoroquinolones. Duration of treatment usually ranges from 1 to 3 months.
Conclusions   H. aphrophilus is an uncommon cause of vertebral osteomyelitis. Patients are regularly cured by antibiotic therapy, provided that a tissue biopsy is performed in order to isolate the causative bacterium.     

Tuberculous arthritis--a fourteen-year experience at a tertiary teaching hospital in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To characterize the clinical and microbiological features of tuberculous arthritis and to clarify the factors affecting treatment outcome. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 51 adult patients with a diagnosis of tuberculous arthritis at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-Linkou over a 14-year period. RESULTS: There were 35 males and 16 females with a mean age of 58.9 years (range, 32 to 89 years). The mean duration of symptoms and signs before diagnosis was 25.4 months (range, 0.25 to 180 months). Joint pain (96.1%) and swelling (90.2%) were two major presentations. Forty five (88.2%) patients had monoarthritis. Knee (26.7%) was the most frequently involved one. Twenty six (51.0%) patients had roentgenologic evidence of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). Forty three patients (84.3%) had positive TB culture of synovial fluid and/or tissue. Of which, 27 (63%) had positive acid-fast bacillus smear. Twenty five patients had sputum for mycobacterial smear and culture, and 17 of them had positive TB culture. Thirty six patients received post-treatment follow-up for 3 to 110 months. Among them, 8 had relapses and 28 had treatment success. Compared the relapse to the success, the former had a higher ratio of drug resistant strains (odds ratio, 7.8; 95% confidence interval, 1.025-59.337; p=0.047) and had a longer treatment duration (22.0 +/- 4.4 vs 13.2 +/- 4.1 months; p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Tuberculous arthritis often occurred in elderly people with male predominance. Drug resistant strain may cause a relapse of tuberculous arthritis, which may result in longer treatment duration. Routine chest X-ray and sputum for mycobacterial smear and culture could be necessary to find concurrent pulmonary TB.     

Bacteremia Complicated by Vertebral Osteomyelitis due to Streptococcus bovis

 The diagnosis of vertebral osteomyelitis is easily missed, especially in the elderly in whom clinical signs of bacteremia might not be manifest. Spontaneously occurring disc-space infection in adults often has an insidious presentation. The infecting microorganism can be difficult to identify. Although discitis due to Streptococcus bovis is occasionally found, it is often difficult to fully confirm the diagnosis. Here, a case of vertebral osteomyelitis due to this microorganism is reported.     

重度椎体压缩骨折球囊扩张椎体成形治疗后的椎体复位

背景：重度椎体压缩性骨折,因其穿刺及复位困难,被认为是椎体成形及后凸成型的相对禁忌证。 目的：探讨应用经皮穿刺球囊扩张椎体成形治疗重度椎体压缩骨折后的椎体复位。 方法：重度椎体压缩骨折30例(42椎),患椎压缩程度为75%-83%。在数字减影血管造影引导下经皮穿刺进针,体位复位结合局部使用球囊扩张,复位满意后注入骨水泥。 结果与结论：30例患者顺利完成治疗。椎体前缘、中部及后缘平均高度分别由治疗前(0.48±0.17) cm、(0.83±0.23) cm和(2.44±0.33) cm,增至术中(0.71±0.22) cm、(1.21±0.25) cm和(2.44±0.33) cm,治疗后椎体前缘、中部高度显著高于治疗前。治疗后目测类比评分显著低于治疗前。结果说明经皮穿刺球囊扩张椎体成形对重度骨质疏松椎体压缩骨折患者能有效缓解疼痛,恢复椎体高度。     

Autofluorescence—an important ancillary technique for the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis: Revisited

Tuberculosis is one of the oldest diseases known to affect humans and is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Lymph nodes are the most common site of extrapulmonary involvement. Tuberculous lymphadenitis can be presumptively diagnosed morphologically on fine‐needle aspiration biopsy of lymph nodes. Additional tests like Ziehl‐Neelsen (ZN) stain for detection of acid fast bacilli, fluorescence, and molecular markers are often employed for confirmation of diagnosis. However, culture is essential for obtaining a definitive diagnosis. Unfortunately, culture is time consuming and expensive. Newer investigative methods are required. The efficacy of autofluorescence in the diagnosis of tuberculous lymphadenitis was evaluated for this purpose. Fine‐needle aspiration biopsies were collected from patients with a clinical diagnosis of tuberculous lymphadenitis. Cytomorphological examination, ZN staining, autofluorescence, and culture were performed on all specimens. ZN staining was positive in 37.5% (30/80) of cases, while autofluorescence was positive in 57.5% (46/80) of patients and was found to have 81.8% specificity, 95% sensitivity, and a positive predictive value of 82.6%. This technique allowed rapid and early diagnosis of tuberculous lymphadenitis in a number of patients, permitting early institution of appropriate therapy. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2013;41:330–334. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Counts of S-100 positive epidermal dendritic cells in Kveim test skin biopsies

S-100 positive epidermal dendritic cells were counted in skin biopsies from 48 Kveim tests and four known foreign-body reactions. Counts in histologically positive Kveim biopsies (mean 11.3 per 200 basal cells) were significantly higher than in either negative biopsies (5.1; P less than 0.001) or foreign-body reactions (4.7; P less than 0.05). A similar difference was found, irrespective of the histological appearances, between biopsies from patients diagnosed clinically as having sarcoidosis (10.5) and those in which another diagnosis had been made (4.1; P less than 0.001). In biopsies from patients with sarcoidosis 70% had a positive Kveim test, 70% had a raised epidermal dendritic cell count and one or the other was positive in 90%. All cases in which both the Kveim test was positive and the dendritic cell count was raised had a final clinical diagnosis of sarcoidosis. Counts of S-100 positive epidermal dendritic cells are useful in differentiating positive reactions to Kveim suspension from non-specific reactions to foreign material and increase the diagnostic confidence of the Kveim test.     

骨密度影像学测量与椎体骨折率评估结合提高骨质疏松的诊断率

背景：临床上用于诊断骨质疏松症的通用指标：脆性骨折或骨密度T ≤ -2.5标准差,只要满足一个条件即可作出骨质疏松的诊断。在做骨密度检查时同时进行椎体骨折评估,可以避免单一因素的评判造成骨质疏松症的漏诊,有利于提高骨质疏松的诊断率。 目的：评估骨密度结合椎体骨折对骨质疏松症临床诊断率的影响。 方法：对217例年龄≥50岁的绝经后女性患者行髋部骨密度检测,同时进行椎体骨折评估,比较单纯依靠骨密度检查与骨密度结合椎体骨折评估对骨质疏松的诊断率的影响,同时探讨骨密度对椎体骨折率的影响。 结果与结论：92例骨密度T ≤ -2.5,达到骨质疏松诊断阈值,占42.4%;102例骨密度-1 > T > -2.5,为低骨量,占47.0%;23例骨密度在正常范围,骨密度T > -1,占10.6%。158例无椎体骨折;59例(27.2%)椎体骨折,101个骨折椎。骨密度T > -2.5的患者椎体骨折率为21.6%,骨密度T ≤ -2.5的患者椎体骨折率34.8%,两组骨折率比较差异有显著性意义(P < 0.05);骨密度结合椎体骨折评估的骨质疏松诊断率为54.8%,比单纯依靠骨密度检查,骨质疏松诊断率提高12.4%(P=0.01)。说明绝经后女性做骨密度检测的同时进行椎体骨折评估可以提高骨质疏松的诊断率。 中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点：组织构建;骨细胞;软骨细胞;细胞培养;成纤维细胞;血管内皮细胞;骨质疏松;组织工程全文链接：     

Diagnostic role of fine-needle aspiration of bone lesions in patients with a previous history of malignancy

At the present time fine-needle aspiration (FNA) is considered a routine diagnostic procedure in evaluating neoplastic vs. nonneoplastic lesions in many organs, with high sensitivity and specificity. The purpose of this study was to assess the utility of FNA in areas of diagnostic difficulty and its limitations in evaluating bone lesions in patients with a previous history of malignancy. From 1989 to 2000, 249 CT-guided FNAs of bone lesion were performed at our institutions; 187/249 (75.1%) patients had a previous history of malignancy. Aspirated material was air-dried for Diff-Quik stain or fixed in ethanol for Papanicolaou staining. Subsequent surgical tissue was available in 69/187 (36.9%) of the cases. There were 114 males and 73 females, ages 14-86 yr (mean, 64 yr). The primary tumor site was lung 49, genitourinary 46, breast 31, gastrointestinal 28, hematopoietic 26, soft tissue/skin 5, and thyroid 2. There were 125 FNAs of the vertebral spine, 19 from the pelvis, 11 from the ribs, 9 from the sternum, 5 from the femur, and 18 from miscellaneous bone sites. Out of 187, 166 (88.7%) were malignant aspirates confirming the patients' primary malignancies. The most common malignancy encountered was adenocarcinoma, 126/187 (67.4%). Surgical tissue was available for review in 69 patients and the results were in agreement with the FNAs diagnosis in all cases. Nine out of 187 (4.8%) cases were diagnosed as marrow elements on cytological material. These patients have been followed for 1-9 yr and have failed to reveal signs or symptoms of clinical recurrence. Three out of 187 (1.6%) cases showed osteomyelitis. Nine out of 187 (4.8%) were unsatisfactory specimens, with biopsy follow-up available in four cases, showing three metastatic tumors and one case of osteomyelitis. FNA of metastatic bone lesions is a major step in pretreatment diagnosis. On satisfactory specimens, the cytological diagnosis viewed in the clinical-radiological context proves to be similar to surgical diagnosis. FNA is an excellent technique with a high accuracy rate in assessing metastatic bone lesions.     

经皮椎体成形高黏度骨水泥注入修复老年椎体压缩骨折：椎体高度恢复评价

背景：在应用高黏度骨水泥以及椎体成形修复骨质疏松性椎体压缩骨折的过程中,骨水泥的推注量-压缩椎体高度的恢复-临床疗效”之间是否存在必然联系以及内在的规律,目前缺乏此方面的循证医学证据,且存在一定争议。 目的：观察经皮椎体成形高黏度骨水泥注入修复老年骨质疏松椎体压缩性骨折的椎体高度恢复情况。 方法：选取2011年1月至2012年12月新疆维吾尔自治区中医医院脊柱外科收治的骨质疏松压缩性骨折老年患者110例,共139椎,均由同一组外科医生采用经皮椎体成形治疗,在骨水泥拉丝期时在“G”形臂监视下将高黏度骨水泥注入骨折椎体内。治疗后随访12个月,以目测类比评分、Barthel指数、椎体高度恢复为观察评价指标。 结果与结论：110例患者共139椎,修复过程顺利,单个椎体骨水泥平均注入量为3-6 mL,平均3.5 mL。患者的目测类比评分由治疗前平均7.9分降到了治疗后12个月的平均1.8分;Barthel指数治疗前平均为40.25,治疗后12个月时为82.21,治疗后与治疗前比较目测类比评分和Barthel指数均有明显改善(P < 0.05)。治疗后139个椎体前、中部的高度增加到了原椎体高度的(81.25±9.26)%和(78.22±10.65)%,治疗后24 h、3个月、12个月与治疗前相比椎体前部、中部高度均有显著恢复(P < 0.05)。治疗后通过随访观察发现,发生高黏度骨水泥渗漏的椎体有5个,以上患者未出现临床症状,未发生神经损伤或肺栓塞等严重并发症。提示经皮椎体成形高黏度骨水泥注入修复骨质疏松性椎体压缩性骨折的过程中,不仅可以有效缓解患者疼痛,在不同程度上恢复压缩椎体的高度,而且并发症发生率低,患者恢复时间短。中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点：生物材料;骨生物材料; 口腔生物材料; 纳米材料; 缓释材料; 材料相容性;组织工程     

Vertebral osteomyelitis associated with single and mixed bacterial infection in broilers

Vertebral osteomyelitis (VO) is a worldwide emerging disease that affects broilers. The objective of this study was to determine the frequency and aetiology of VO in broilers in a highly productive broiler region. For this, 608 broilers with locomotory problems were analysed from 18 farms. Clinical signs were recorded, necropsy was performed and samples were collected from vertebral bodies with gross changes for molecular and histopathological analysis and for bacterial isolation. From broilers with locomotory changes, 5.1% (31/608) had VO and, of these, 93.5% were 40 days old or older and 89.7% were males. The birds with VO presented varying degrees of limited mobility and this was related to the level of compression to the spinal cord. Bacterial species of the genus Enterococcus (DNA detected in 53.6%) were the aetiological agents involved in most VO cases. Enterococcus faecalis was detected most frequently (35.7%), but Enterococcus hirae was also present in some lesions (7.1%). Escherichia coli was detected in 35.7% of vertebral lesions and co-infection with E. faecalis was confirmed in 7.1% cases. Staphylococcus aureus was involved in 14.3% of the cases, being 7.1% in co-infection with Enterococcus spp. or E. hirae. Our study has indicated that, in Brazil, VO in broilers may not be caused by a single infectious agent and has a lower frequency than recently reported in other countries. This study suggests that there are geographical differences between Brazil and other countries concerning the frequency and aetiology of VO.