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Och Spine Services

Diagnosis & Treatment

Spinal Infections

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How is a Spinal Infection Diagnosed?

Diagnosis

A spinal infection is typically diagnosed through a combination of physical examinations, imaging tests, and blood work, including:

  • Physical Exam. Your health provider will evaluate your symptoms and review your medical history.
  • Imaging tests, including X-rays, CT scans and MRIs. Imaging tests can reveal evidence of bone and disc deterioration and evaluate overall soft tissue and bone health.
  • Blood tests can determine if your blood counts have changed. An elevated white blood cell count and other markers of inflammation can indicate an infection.
  • Radioisotope bone scan. This test uses nuclear imaging to monitor bone infections.
  • Surgical biopsy. A sample of a vertebra or disc space is removed and analyzed.

A spinal infection diagnosis is crucial to receive potentially life-saving treatments as soon as possible.

How are Spinal Infections Treated?

Treatment

Spinal infections can be treated with surgical and nonsurgical options. Doctors will strive to use nonsurgical treatments for spinal infections first before recommending surgery.

Medication

Antibiotic or antifungal medication can help kill the organisms causing the infection. They may be taken for up to 8 weeks, involve an extensive hospital stay, or be given intravenously at home.

Physical therapy

A spinal infection can cause loss of mobility. Once the infection has been treated, physical therapy can help to restore strength and range of motion.

Surgery

If a spinal infection has destroyed bone tissue, caused spinal instability, or impaired sensation or movement, a surgeon may:

  • Remove infected bone and tissue.
  • Use plates, screws, and cages to stabilize the remaining bone.
  • Perform kyphoplasty. Spinal infection can cause the collapse of a vertebra. Kyphoplasty involves injecting special cement into the vertebrae to repair integrity, restore height, and relieve pain.
  • Perform a laminectomy. A laminectomy is a major procedure that removes a portion of the vertebra (the lamina)—creating space and relieving pressure off the spinal nerves or spinal cord.
Get Care

Trust NewYork-Presbyterian for Spinal Infection Treatment

NewYork-Presbyterian houses some of the leading spinal care experts in the nation. Our doctors and surgeons can diagnose your symptoms and develop an individualized spinal infection treatment plan to eradicate your condition and address any complications.

A spinal infection requires immediate medical attention. Contact NewYork-Presbyterian for compassionate spinal care.