Vertebral osteomyelitis: Long-term disability assessment and prognostic factors

SummaryIn the present study, we quantified the long-term sequelae of a series of patients diagnosed with vertebral osteomyelitis during the period 1990–2002 in Albacete (Spain), using two validated questionnaires of spinal dysfunction and also one pain and one global health assessment. It was possible to interview 69 (78%) patients diagnosed with vertebral osteomyelitis, and an additional 90 “normal” people were recruited as controls to establish normal values. We also carried out a multivariate analysis to identify independent risk factors.We found only a 33% rate of spinal disability, only 3% severe, assessed by the Oswestry and HAQ for ankylosing spondylitis questionnaires, a median of 5.4 years after treatment. Pain and global health assessment did not correlate with spinal function questionnaires. Independent predictors of long-term disability were the followings: neurological impairment at the time of diagnosis (RR = 7.1, 95% CI 1.3–10.2), time to diagnosis ≥ 8 weeks (RR = 4.4, 95% CI 1.5–7.9) and debilitating disease (RR = 3.9, 95% CI 1.2–7.5).Standardized spinal function questionnaires are useful measures to assess long-term outcome of vertebral osteomyelitis that facilitates comparison between case series and identification of risk factors.