Spinal Infection, Inflammatory, and CSF-Related Disorders

Spinal infection, inflammatory, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)–related disorders encompass a diverse group of conditions that affect the spinal cord, nerve roots, and surrounding structures. These disorders may arise from bacterial, viral, fungal, or autoimmune processes, or from abnormalities in the circulation and containment of CSF. Without timely diagnosis and treatment, they can lead to progressive neurological injury and long-term disability.

Spinal infections include discitis, osteomyelitis, epidural abscess, intradural infections, and postoperative infections. Inflammatory disorders may involve conditions such as transverse myelitis, neurosarcoidosis, and autoimmune-mediated spinal cord inflammation. CSF-related disorders include spinal CSF leaks, pseudomeningoceles, arachnoid cysts, syringomyelia, and other abnormalities of CSF flow and pressure. Patients may present with back or neck pain, fever, weakness, numbness, gait disturbances, headaches, or changes in bowel and bladder function.

Diagnosis requires careful clinical evaluation and advanced imaging, particularly MRI with contrast, along with laboratory studies and, when indicated, spinal fluid analysis. Treatment is highly individualized and may include antimicrobial therapy, immunomodulatory treatment, image-guided procedures, or surgical intervention to decompress neural structures, drain infection, repair CSF leaks, or restore normal CSF circulation.

Our multidisciplinary spine and neuroinfectious disease team provides coordinated care from diagnosis through recovery and long-term follow-up. By integrating neurosurgery, neurology, infectious disease, radiology, rehabilitation, and pain management, we focus on eliminating disease, protecting neurological function, and restoring each patient’s quality of life with the highest level of safety and precision.