vertebral osteomyelitis

Epidemiology

M:F =2:1

30-40 years

20% diabetic

50-80% identifiable source

Site

Lumbar (50%) > Thoracic > Cervical (<10%)

Pathogenesis

1.  Haematogenous

- arterial rather than venous

Risk factors

- UTI (40% of all cases)

- IVDU

- elderly