Fulminant Clostridium Difficile Colitis After Surgical Treatment of Cervical Destructive Spondyloarthropathy

by Tetsuro Ohba, Shigeto Ebata, Takashi Ando, Jiro Ichikawa, Devin Clinton, Tetsuo Kondo, and Hirotaka Haro

JBJS Case ConnectVolume 1(1):e2July 27, 2011

©2011 by The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Inc.

Lateral flexion (A) and extension (B) cervical spine radiographs demonstrated cervical spondyloarthropathy associated with hemodialysis.

Tetsuro Ohba et al. JBJS Case Connect 2011;1:e2

©2011 by The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Inc.

A CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis demonstrated mucous-membrane thickening (arrow) and edema of the entire colon.

Tetsuro Ohba et al. JBJS Case Connect 2011;1:e2

©2011 by The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Inc.

Autopsy specimen of the entire colon (A) and close-up view (B) revealed widespread pseudomembranes in the colon (arrow).

Tetsuro Ohba et al. JBJS Case Connect 2011;1:e2

©2011 by The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Inc.

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing of DNA extracted from mucosal debris revealed positive findings for C. difficile toxin B (tcd B) (arrow).

Tetsuro Ohba et al. JBJS Case Connect 2011;1:e2

©2011 by The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Inc.