Vertebral osteomyelitis following vertebroplasty: is acne a potential contraindication and are prophylactic antibiotics mandatory prior to vertebroplasty?

• Published in: Pain physician Vol. 12; no. 4; pp. E285 - E290
• Main Authors: Syed, Mubin I, Avutu, Bindu, Shaikh, Azim, Sparks, Hannah, Mohammed, Mutahher Ibarze, Morar, Kamal
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Society of Interventional Pain Physician 01.07.2009
• Subjects: Acne; Acne Vulgaris - drug therapy; Acne Vulgaris - pathology; Acne Vulgaris - surgery; Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use; Antibiotics; Case reports; Contraindications; Dogs; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods; Male; Middle Aged; Osteomyelitis - etiology; Osteomyelitis - pathology; Osteomyelitis - prevention & control; Vertebroplasty - adverse effects
• ISSN: 1533-3159; 2150-1149
• DOI: 10.36076/ppj.2009/12/E285

We present a case of vertebral osteomyelitis following vertebroplasty in a patient with acne of the back. Vertebral biopsy revealed Corynebacterium species and blood cultures were positive for Propionibacterium species. The patient did not respond to long-term intravenous antibiotics and required vertebral corpectomy and debridement with instrumentation. Interventionalists should be able to recognize acne of the back and consider this as a potential contraindication to vertebroplasty. Prophylactic antibiotics should be considered in all patients prior to vertebroplasty since subepidermal organisms are not eliminated with the standard skin prep.