Original articleDiagnostic pitfalls in osteomyelitis of the odontoid process: case report
Section snippets
Case report
A 68-year-old male was admitted to our hospital with a 7-day history of posterior cervical pain, neck stiffness, and fever. There was no recent exposure to tuberculosis and the patient had no recent head or neck injuries. The patient had been treated for diabetes mellitus and hypertension for 3 years. On admission, the patient was alert and well oriented, with a body temperature of 38.6°C. The neck was stiff and painful on palpation; the posterior cervical pain was constant and independent of
Discussion
Pyogenic osteomyelitis most frequently involves irregular, cancellous bones such as the vertebrae, clavicle, sternum, and flat bones of the pelvis in adults 1, 8. Osteomyelitis of the cervical spine is less common than similar diseases in the lumbar or thoracic spine, and osteomyelitis confined to the odontoid process is rarely reported. Despite repeated warnings in the literature, the diagnosis of cervical osteomyelitis is still often missed. Our case showed symptoms compatible with
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