Authors have experienced 9 cases of discitis who were treated surgically and followed up more than 1 year from June, 1988 to June, d1992, Average duration of symptoms before diagnosis was 14 weeks, but relatively short short duration of symptom
(average
6.5 weeks) was seen in postoperative discitis. Constant findings were back pain, tenderness, elevation of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP). The most ccmmon site was L4-5 and the most common causative organism was
Staphylococcus aureus. All were treated by anterior curettage and fusion with autogenous iliac bone graft and the results were acceptable. Discitis is rare disease in adults but should be considered if the patient shows persistent back pain,
tenderness
and elevated ESR and CRP. MRI is a useful method in early diagnosis of discitis.
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