
Spine Disorders
TERMINOLOGY
INTRODUCTION The term discitis refers to
inflammation of an intervertebral disc
or disc space often related to infections. Discitis occurs in adults but more
commonly in children. The precise casue of discitis has been the subject of
debate fro decades, although most authors and researcher believe that it occurs
secondary to infection in most cases. The infection likely arises from the
subchondral region under an endplate. This is where the blood supply comes into
the bone. The disc is probably infected secondary to spread across the endplate
region. An exception would be those cases where a procedure may have introduced
an infectious organism directly in the disc. PREVALENCE Although
discitis is uncommon, the condition is most prevalent in children under ten
years of age. It usually develops secondary to inflammation associated with
staphylococcus, viruses or other inflammatory processes. Discitis occurs with equal
prevalence in boys/men and girls/women. Infectious discitis can also develop as
a result of surgery. Discitis is rare in the neck
(cervical spine). It occurs more often in the lower back (lumbar region) and
upper-mid back (thoracic region). |