When Your Spine Can Hold You Back: Spinal Infections - Bruno Gil & Raquel Siganporia, Bolt Burden Kemp
27/09/15. Over the last few years there have been several successful and highly-valued claims where patients have sued their doctors for failing to diagnose infections of the spine or failing to act promptly.
The spine, like any other part of the body, can suffer from infection. Such an infection can be very serious and have hugely significant effects on the patient.
The infection may establish in the softer disc, or it may infect the harder vertebral bones. Once established in the back, the infection can spread up or down the spine in a cascade-effect.
How did I contract the spinal infection in the first place?
Most commonly, the infection arrives in the blood, having spread from other areas of the body.
The veins in the lower spine drain the pelvic area, bladder and prostate. As these areas are naturally susceptible to infection, it is quite common for infections of the spine to follow on.
Similarly, medical procedures can introduce infection to these areas which can then spread to the spine e.g. a cystoscopy that introduces bacteria to the bladder may result in an infection of the spine.
Risk factors
As infection of the spine tends to be a secondary infection, anything that reduces the immune system will increase the risk of this occurring. Risk factors include:
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Malnutrition
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Diabetes
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Immunodeficiency
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Recent infections
How do I know whether I have an infection of the spine?
The infection will often present as back pain. It normally sets in steadily over a long period of time.
As the infection progresses, there are some clear warning signs, sometimes referred to as ‘red flags’, to watch out for:
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Fevers and/or chills
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Headaches
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Weight loss
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Stiffness of the neck
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Weakness, numbness or tingling in the arms and/or legs.
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Worsening pain at night
What to be aware of
First and foremost, your doctors should take every precaution to ensure that they do not introduce an infection when carrying out any procedures. They must use sterile equipment and the appropriate aseptic technique.
Secondly, your doctors should be alert to...
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