Back to Search
Start Over
Surgical management of coccidioidomycosis of the spine: clinical article.
- Source :
-
Journal of neurosurgery. Spine [J Neurosurg Spine] 2011 Oct; Vol. 15 (4), pp. 441-6. Date of Electronic Publication: 2011 Jul 08. - Publication Year :
- 2011
-
Abstract
- Object: Coccidioides immitis is a dimorphous fungus endemic in the southwestern US and northern Mexico. While its primary presentation is pulmonary, it can have devastating neurological sequelae.<br />Methods: The authors provide a retrospective review with long-term follow-up between 1986 and 2008 at a single institution.<br />Results: The authors identified 27 patients between 13 and 81 years old (mean 41.4 years) with spinal coccidioides who were treated surgically at the Barrow Neurological Institute between 1986 and 2008. There were 24 males (89%) and 3 females (11%). Eleven patients (41%) had cervical spine involvement, 15 (56%) had thoracic involvement, 7 (26%) had lumbar involvement, and 2 (7%) had sacral involvement. All 27 patients presented with localized or radiating pain. Nine patients (33%) had myelopathic symptoms at presentation, 5 (19%) had radiculopathy, 4 (15%) had fever, and 12 (44%) had progressive kyphosis. The disease was most frequently seen among African American patients (14 patients [52%]), followed by Caucasians (5 patients [19%]), Asians (3 patients [11%]), and Hispanics (3 patients [11%]). Ten patients (37%) required multiple operations at the same level. Follow-up was available in 19 patients (70%) (mean 9.8 months, range 1-39 months). Sixteen (84%) of these 19 patients improved from their preoperative baseline states, 1 (5%) was stable on examination, 1 patient's condition (5%) deteriorated compared with the preoperative examination, and 1 patient (5%) died in the postoperative period.<br />Conclusions: Although spinal involvement of coccidioidomycosis is relatively uncommon, a high index of suspicion and aggressive therapy are warranted to prevent devastating neurological injury, and lifelong antifungal therapy is often warranted.
- Subjects :
- Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Antifungal Agents therapeutic use
Coccidioidomycosis diagnostic imaging
Coccidioidomycosis drug therapy
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Radiculopathy diagnostic imaging
Radiculopathy drug therapy
Radiculopathy surgery
Radiography
Retrospective Studies
Spinal Diseases diagnostic imaging
Spinal Diseases drug therapy
Spinal Fusion
Spine diagnostic imaging
Treatment Outcome
Coccidioidomycosis surgery
Spinal Diseases surgery
Spine surgery
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1547-5646
- Volume :
- 15
- Issue :
- 4
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Journal of neurosurgery. Spine
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 21740127
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.3171/2011.5.SPINE10596