Fig. 2

Sequential radiologic findings in a previously healthy 40-year-old man (case 1). Prior to primary lumbar discectomy, sagittal T2-weighted MRI showed a herniated disk at L3/4 (a). The original single-level infection was detected by T1-weighted MRI, approximately 2 weeks after primary discectomy (b). One month later, T1- and T2-weighted MRI showed the infection had progressed to L3/4 (c) and (d). Lesion debridement + bone graft fusion + pedicle screw fixation were performed in another hospital(e) and (f). CT showed that the infection had progressed to the adjacent L2/3 and L4/5 levels, with endplate destruction 2 months after fixation surgery(g) and (h)