Affiliations 

  • 1 Department of Orthopaedic, Hospital Sultan Ismail, Johor Bharu, Malaysia
  • 2 Orthopaedic Department, Hospital Queen Elizabeth, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
  • 3 Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia drkmgohn@ums.edu.my
BMJ Case Rep, 2023 Dec 21;16(12).
PMID: 38129083 DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2023-255033

Abstract

Spinal infection comprises pyogenic and non-pyogenic spondylodiscitis. This condition may manifest with non-specific clinical symptoms, elevated infective parameters and imaging findings that are difficult to distinguish. The cornerstone of a definitive diagnosis and subsequent successful treatment lies in tissue analysis through culture and histopathological studies. In this context, we present a case of Salmonella pyogenic spondylodiscitis affecting the C5/C6 vertebrae, complicated by Salmonella bacteraemia and characterised by mechanical neck pain that curtails daily activities and overall functioning, although without neurological deficits. The uniqueness of this case stems from its occurrence in an immunocompetent individual from a non-endemic area, with no identifiable sources of Salmonella infection or preceding gastrointestinal symptoms.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.