Fig. 4

Pre- and post-treatment radiological images of a 45-year-old male with intractable low back pain and limited range of motion of waist. a, at first consultation, intensified signal at L3, L4 vertebral bodies were seen on T2-weighted MRI (yellow arrow). b, treated for 6 weeks with intravenous antibiotic therapy alone, the symptoms deteriorated and L4 body destructed (green arrow). c, instant X-ray filming after a combined surgical approach of posterior instrumentation and anterior debridement and fusion. d, postoperative X-ray filming at the 6-month follow up. E, postoperative X-ray filming at the 12-month follow up