We analysed 26 cases of pyogenic osteomyelitis of the spine who were treaed at Younsei University Hospital during 25 years from January 1952 to August_ 1977 by operative or conservative treatment. The diagnosis of pyogenic osteomyelitis of the spine is not easy and very confused. The cause and entry of the offending organism is mainly by venous drainage from the genitourinary and lower extremity circulation and the next is direct spreading from the adjacent focus. The typical clinical symptom is severe pain and tenderness over the lesion accompanied by febril history and the clinical course is relatively rapid than tuberculosi3~ of the spine. In blood examination leukocytosis is uncommon but it showed relative increase of neutrophils in 62%, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate in 89%. Radiological findings are narrowing of joint space, erosion and/or destuctive change of vertebral body, vertebral marginal sclerotic change, and new bone formation and less frequently abscess shadow.
The results obj~ined from this study were as follows;
1) The incidence of pyogenic osteomyelitis of the spine among total cases of the pyogenic osteomyelitis was 2.5% and the ratio of the pyogenic osteomyelitis of the spine to the spine tuberculosis was 2.8%,
2) The sexual incidence was in 11 and 15 each male and female. and the average prevalent age was 34 years of age.
3) The pathogenic organism was isolated in 20 cases from the diseased focus during surgical procedure; stapyhloccus in 16 cases, pseudomonas in two and in a case of E. soli and proteus each.
4) The lumber vertebrae was mostly involved, i. e. lumbar in 11 cases, cervical in four, thoracic in nine, lumbosacral and sacrum in one each.
5) The operative treatment was performed in 23 cases and conservative in 3 cases with the satisfatory result itl all cases.
6) We conclude that the focal curettage with anterior interbody fusion through anterior approach was better than the conservative treatment.
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