# Spondylodiscitis Following Perforated Acute Appendicitis: A Case Report

## TL;DR

A 15-year-old boy developed spondylodiscitis after perforated appendicitis, requiring surgery and antibiotics to resolve symptoms.

## Contribution

This is the third reported case of spondylodiscitis following perforated acute appendicitis, highlighting a rare complication.

## Key findings

- Spondylodiscitis at T12-L1 spinal level occurred two months after perforated appendicitis surgery.
- Discectomy, posterior pedicle-screw fixation, and antibiotics resolved the patient's symptoms.
- Timely diagnosis and treatment are critical to prevent permanent neurological deficits in such cases.

## Abstract

Spondylodiscitis is a multifactorial disease of significant medical and socioeconomic importance, the treatment of which presents a challenge to clinicians and surgeons. Acute appendicitis is a common inflammatory disease in children, with postoperative complications occurring in up to 55% of cases. We present the case of a 15-year-old male with symptoms of severe back pain and fever two months following surgery for perforated appendicitis. The computed tomography (CT) revealed spondylodiscitis of T12-L1 spinal level. Discectomy and posterior pedicle-screw fixation were performed, followed by antibiotic treatment resulted in the resolution of preoperative symptoms. To the best of our knowledge, this is the third case of spondylodiscitis after perforated acute appendicitis in literature. Timely diagnosis and treatment in cases of spondylodiscitis are prerequisites for lowering the rate of permanent neurological deficits in these patients.