Septic Arthritis of the Spinal Facet Joint: Review of 117 Cases.

BACKGROUND: Septic arthritis of the spinal facet joints is increasingly recognized in the era of magnetic resonance imaging, but its epidemiology, clinical features, management, and prognosis are ill-defined.

METHODS: We review 101 previously published cases and report 16 cases occurring at our institutions between 2006 and 2018.

RESULTS: Most patients presented with fever (60%) and back or neck pain (86%). Radiation into the hip, buttock, or limb was present in 34%. The lumbosacral vertebral segments were involved in 78% of cases. Most cases (64%) were due to Staphylococcus aureus . Bacteremia was present in 66% and paraspinal muscle abscesses in 54%. While epidural abscesses were present in 56%, neurologic complications were seen in only 9%, likely because most abscesses arose below the conus medullaris. Neurologic complications were more common with cervical or thoracic involvement than lumbosacral (32% vs 2%, P < .0001). Extraspinal infection, such as endocarditis, was identified in only 22% of cases. An overall 98% of patients survived, with only 5% having neurologic sequelae.

CONCLUSIONS: Septic arthritis of the facet joint is a distinct clinical syndrome typically involving the lumbar spine and is frequently associated with bacteremia, posterior epidural abscesses, and paraspinal pyomyositis. Neurologic outcomes are usually good with medical management alone.