Asian Spine J.
2009 Dec;3(2):106-112. 10.4184/asj.2009.3.2.106.
Treatment for Multiple Aspergillus Spondylitis Including a Hip Joint
- Affiliations
-
- 1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Incheon St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Incheon, Korea.
- 2Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. kyh@catholic.ac.kr
- KMID: 2048079
- DOI: http://doi.org/10.4184/asj.2009.3.2.106
Abstract
- Multiple aspergillus spondylitis (AS) is a life threatening infection that occurs more commonly in immunocompromised patients, and is commonly treated with antifungal agents. However, there is relatively little information available on the treatment of multiple AS. The authors encountered a 46-year-old man suffering from low back and neck pain with radiculomyelopathy after a liver transplant. The patient had concomitant multiple AS in the cervico-thoraco-lumbar spine and right hip joint, as confirmed by radiologic imaging studies. The pathological examination of a biopsy specimen revealed fungal hyphae at the cervical and lumbar spine. Anterior decompression and interbody fusion were performed for the cervical and lumbar lesions, which showed instability and related neurological symptoms. Additional antifungal therapy was also performed. The patient was treated successfully with remission of his symptoms.
