Table 1 Patient characteristics and clinical presentation in 70 cases of hematogenous vertebral osteomyelitis
From: The epidemiology of hematogenous vertebral osteomyelitis: a cohort study in a tertiary care hospital
Variable | n (%) |
|---|---|
Age (mean, ± standard deviation), years | 59.7 (±15.0) |
Male gender | 38 (54%) |
Caucasian race | 44 (63%) |
Body mass index (median, range), kg/m2 | 27.2 (13.4-80.6) |
Transfer from outside hospital | 31 (44%) |
Comorbidities | |
Diabetes mellitus | 30 (43%) |
Degenerative joint disease | 30 (43%) |
Renal insufficiency (serum-creatinine > 2 mg/dl) | 17 (24%) |
History of spinal injury | 12 (17%) |
History of spinal surgery (>1 year ago) | 10 (14%) |
HIV infection | 1 (1%) |
Malignancy | 1 (1%) |
Solid organ transplant/Bone marrow transplant | 1 (1%) |
Procedures or infections in prior month | |
Urinary tract infection | 14 (20%) |
Indwelling catheter | 21 (30%) |
Bacteremia | 13 (19%) |
Skin or soft tissue infection | 12 (17%) |
Pneumonia | 7 (10%) |
Colonoscopy | 2 (3%) |
Dental procedure | 2 (3%) |
Reported symptoms | |
Back pain | 61 (87%) |
Weakness | 39 (56%) |
Fever | 32 (46%) |
Radicular pain | 24 (34%) |
Sensory loss | 20 (29%) |
Weight loss | 14 (20%) |
Stool or urine incontinence | 9 (13%) |
Physical findings | |
Decreased deep tendon reflexes | 46 (70%) |
Impaired motor strength | 40 (60%) |
Sensory deficit | 29 (44%) |
Decreased rectal tone* | 10 (14%) |
Positive Babinski's sign | 9 (13%) |