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Pyogenic sacroiliitis: diagnosis, management and clinical outcome

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Abstract

Objective

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the role of diagnostic tools and management options for patients with pyogenic sacroiliitis, including potential complications.

Materials and methods

This retrospective study included 16 patients with pyogenic sacroiliitis who were admitted to a single orthopaedic centre between 2007 and 2012. The following data were collected: demographics, history, radiography, magnetic resonance images (MRI), biological data, type of pathogenic agent, abscess formation, type of management, and clinical outcome.

Results

Our study demonstrated that only one-fifth of the patients with lumbogluteal or hip pain had established diagnoses of suspected pyogenic sacroiliitis upon admission. MRIs confirmed this diagnosis in all cases. MRI examinations revealed joint fluid in the sacroiliac joint and significant oedema of the adjacent bone and soft tissues. In 12 of the 16 cases, erosions of the subchondral bone were encountered. Contrast-enhanced MRI revealed that 9 patients had abscesses. All patients received antibiotic therapy. Antibiotic treatment was only successful in 9 cases. The other 7 patients underwent computed tomography (CT)-guided abscess drainage. Drainage was sufficient for 4 patients, but 3 patients required open surgery. One patient required sacroiliac arthrodesis. The clinical outcomes included minimal disability (n = 10), moderate disability (n = 5), and full disability (n = 1) of the spine.

Conclusions

Contrast-enhanced MRI is mandatory for a reliable diagnosis. Abscess formation was observed in approximately half of the MRI-diagnosed sacroiliitis cases and required minimally invasive drainage under CT guidance or frequently open surgery.

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Conflicts of interest

This study was supported by the programme PRVOUK P37/04 and by MHCZ—DRO (UHHK, 00179906).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital in Hradec Králové, Sokolska 581, 500 05, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic

    Tomas Kucera & Pavel Sponer

  2. Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital in Hradec Králové, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic

    Jindra Brtkova

  3. Department of Clinical Microbiology, Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital in Hradec Králové, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic

    Lenka Ryskova

  4. Department of Rehabilitation, Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital in Hradec Králové, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic

    Eduard Popper

  5. Department of Surgery, Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital in Hradec Králové, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic

    Martin Frank

  6. Department of Neurosurgery, Regional Hospital in Pardubice, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic

    Marie Kucerova

Authors
  1. Tomas Kucera
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  2. Jindra Brtkova
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  3. Pavel Sponer
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  4. Lenka Ryskova
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  5. Eduard Popper
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  6. Martin Frank
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  7. Marie Kucerova
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Correspondence to Tomas Kucera.

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Kucera, T., Brtkova, J., Sponer, P. et al. Pyogenic sacroiliitis: diagnosis, management and clinical outcome. Skeletal Radiol 44, 63–71 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-014-1999-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-014-1999-y

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