We describe a case of vertebral osteomyelitis caused by Prevotella intermedia, which is an extremely unusual cause of vertebral osteomyelitis. The organism was isolated from vertebral biopsies and the patient was treated successfully with intravenous ampicillin-sulbactam and clindamycin. Diagnosis and management of this condition are described, and the importance of anaerobic bacteria in the pa...

INTRODUCTION For patients with a solitary and well-delimitated spinal metastasis that resides inside the vertebral body, without vertebral canal invasion, and who are in good general health with a long life expectancy, en bloc spondylectomy/total vertebrectomy combined with the use of primary stabilizing instrumentation has been advocated. However, clinical experience suggests that these qualif...

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the applicability of the WHO densitometric criteria for the diagnosis of spinal osteoporosis in men and to compare it with women with vertebral fractures, as well as to analyze the role of vertebral dimensions in the development of spinal fractures. METHODS For these purposes we analyzed, using DXA, vertebral projected area and lumbar bone mineral density (BMD), as well ...

PURPOSE Fractures are associated with cardiovascular diseases in the elderly. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the association between aortic calcification (AC) and the risk of vertebral fractures in postmenopausal Chinese women. METHODS A prospective study with 5 years of follow-up in 1724 postmenopausal women (aged 50 years old and older) was conducted from July 2005 to J...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Imaging findings in patients with a combination of synovitis, acne, pustulosis, hyperostosis, and osteitis (SAPHO) are often misinterpreted as discitis/osteomyelitis or metastases, resulting in multiple biopsies and delayed diagnosis. We have incidentally noted a semicircular morphology in vertebral body imaging in several cases of SAPHO syndrome with vertebral involvemen...

The segmental heritage of all vertebrates is evident in the character of the vertebral column. And yet, the extent to which direct translation of pattern from the somitic mesoderm and de novo cell and tissue interactions pattern the vertebral column remains a fundamental, unresolved issue. The elements of vertebral column pattern under debate include both segmental pattern and anteroposterior r...

BACKGROUND Prior investigations have not identified a major locus for vertebral malformations, providing evidence that there is genetic heterogeneity for this condition. WNT3A has recently been identified as a negative regulator of Notch signaling and somitogenesis. Mice with mutations in Wnt3a develop caudal vertebral malformations. Because congenital vertebral malformations represent a sporad...

BACKGROUND Persons with vertebral fracture may have reduced pulmonary function, but this association has not been much studied. The aim of this cross-sectional study was therefore to examine the relationship between vertebral fracture and pulmonary function in a general, elderly population. METHODS Vertebral morphometry was used for vertebral fracture assessment in 2132 elderly men (n = 892) ...

Background: Fetal anatomy is now becoming popular with advancement in fetal surgery in-utero. The knowledge regarding the embryonic development of vertebral canal plays an important role in diagnosis of congenital anomalies as well as fetal surgeries of the vertebral canal. Methods: Sixty fetuses which were preserved in 10% formalin were divided into five groups according to the gestational age...