Spinal Infections

Your spine is vital for body support and movement. Spinal infection, caused by germs, can bring severe pain and complications, potentially leading to permanent disability or death if ignored.

That’s why you need apt knowledge of treatment for spinal infection. Dr. Martin Liner will assist you throughout your back pain treatment in Dubai to ensure you get the treatment you deserve.

What Is Spinal Infection (Spondylodiscitis)?

Spinal Infection is a rare but serious condition that affects the spine. It is caused by germs that spread from other parts of the body to the spine through the blood. Alternatively the germs can be brought into the spine during spinal procedures or surgeries. Our spine has many parts that germs can infect, such as vertebrae, the discs, the membranes, the canal, and even the cord of our spine.

When they affect the discs between our vertebrae, we call it discitis, which means disc inflammation. When they damage the bones of our spine, we call it Spondylitis, which means bone infection. A combination of both is called Spondylodiscitis.

Causes of Spinal Infection

Spondylodiscitis is a term that refers to the infection of the adjacent vertebrae and the intervertebral disc. It can be caused by different microorganisms, such as bacteria, fungi, or parasites.

Staphylococcus aureus is The most common cause, accounting for about 60% of cases. Other possible causes include Streptococcus viridans, gram-negative organisms, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and fungal infections.

Symptoms of Spinal Infection

The symptoms of spondylodiscitis are non-specific and often insidious. The most common symptoms are:

  • Severe back or neck pain, which may be constant or worse at night.
  • Fever and spinal tenderness
  • loss of lumbar lordosis and reduced mobility, 
  • paravertebral muscle spasm and neurological deficits. 

The symptoms may vary depending on the location and extent of the infection, the type of microorganism involved, and the patient’s immune status. Therefore, it is important to seek a spinal infection doctor in Dubai if you suspect you have spondylodiscitis.

spinal infection in Dubai symptoms

Diagnosis of Spinal Infection

Diagnosing spinal infection in Dubai can be challenging, as the symptoms are often non-specific, and conventional blood tests may not detect the infection. Therefore, imaging techniques are essential for confirming the diagnosis and assessing the extent of the infection.

The most commonly used imaging modalities are:

  • Plain radiography 
  • CT scan
  • MRI
  • Nuclear medicine

In addition to imaging, microbiological confirmation of the causative organism is important for guiding the appropriate antibiotic therapy. This can be obtained by blood cultures, biopsy, or aspiration of the infected site.

Treatment of Spinal Infection

The treatment of spondylodiscitis depends on the cause, severity, and complications of the infection. The main goals of treatment are to eliminate the infection, reduce the pain, and preserve the structure and function of the spine.

The treatment usually consists of the following components:

spinal infection treatment in Dubai

Antibiotic therapy:

This is the cornerstone of treatment, as it aims to eradicate the causative organism and stop the spread of infection. The choice of this treatment depends on the results of blood cultures, biopsy, or aspiration, as well as the patient's risk factors and allergies. If the organism is unknown, empirical antibiotic therapy is initiated based on the most likely pathogens.
spinal infection treatment in Dubai

Non-pharmacological treatments

These include immobilization with orthoses and reduced physical activities, and lifestyle modifications.
spinal infection surgery in Dubai

Surgical intervention

Spine surgery in Dubai is reserved for cases that don't respond to conservative treatment or that have severe complications, such as spinal instability, neurological deficits, epidural abscess, or spinal deformity.
The type of surgery depends on the location and extent of the infection and the patient's condition and preference.

Consult Dr. Martin Liner for spinal infection in Dubai

Don’t let spinal infection affect your quality of life and well-being. Consult Dr. Martin Liner, the best spinal infection doctor in Dubai, and get the expert care you need.

Dr. Martin has extensive experience and knowledge in treating spondylodiscitis and other spinal disorders. He will provide you with a personalized treatment plan that includes antibiotic therapy, non-pharmacological therapy and spine surgery in Dubai if needed. 

Don’t wait any longer. Contact Dr. Martin today and get rid of your spinal infection for good.

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