Pyogenic osteomyelitis

Pyogenic osteomyelitis is an infection of bone, seen particularly in the spine due to the multitude of routes to the spinous circulation (the vertebral venous plexus, which communicates with the circulation of the brain, the abdomen, and the genitourinary tract; the the arterial circulation, and the potential of penetration through the pharynx by objects such as fish bones). Abscesses of any bone may be precipitated by trauma to the affected area and many of the infections are caused by S. aureus, a member of the normal flora.

Acosta, Chin, et al. Diagnosis and management of adult pyogenic osteomyelitis of the cervical spine Neurosurg Focus 17 (6):E2, 2004.