Spontaneous corynebacterium spondylodiskitis in an immunocompetent patient: A case report and literature review

Abstract

Background: Spontaneous Corynebacterium spondylodiskitis is an unusual diagnosis of spondylodiskitis, especially in healthy patients without any significant past medical history.

Materials and methods: We describe the case of a 78-year-old man with progressive low back pain for 3 months, irradiating down the lower limbs through L5 and S1 root pathways, associated with distal muscle weakness in both lower limbs. He had no history of trauma or medical problems. Laboratory investigation revealed elevated serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate, without leukocytosis. The magnetic resonance findings demonstrated an extensive L5-S1 spondylodiskitis and L4-L5 anterolisthesis. Prior to spinopelvic fixation and posterolateral fusion, a substantial debridement was performed. The obtained tissue samples were submitted to pathological and microbiological studies, which identified Corynebacterium infection.

Results: One month after surgery, the pain diminished dramatically and the CRP titer diminished significantly.

Conclusion: Although cases are very rare, spontaneous Corynebacterium spondylodiskitis, with substantial invasion of the spine, may develop in patients lacking any history of medical or surgical problems.

Keywords:

• Corynebacterium
• Low back pain
• Spondylodiskitis
• Spontaneous

Disclaimer statements

Contributors All authors certify that they have no affiliations with or involvement in any organization or entity with any financial interest or non-financial interest in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript.

Funding None.

Conflicts of interest The authors declare that they do not have any conflict of interest.

Ethics approval All experiments were done in accordance with the National Institutes of Health Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (NIH Publication No. 80–23, revised 1996) and were approved by the Research and Ethics Committee of Shahid Beheshti Universities of Medical Sciences, Tehtan, Iran.