Septic arthritis of the spine facet joint: early positive diagnosis on magnetic resonance imaging. Review of two cases.

We report two cases of septic arthritis of the spine facet joint in two patients with no previous medical history. Clinical symptoms were consistent with a spondylodiscitis. Blood cultures were positive for Staphylococcus aureus. The infection was initially shown and precisely localised with magnetic resonance imaging, despite an initially negative or aspecific bone scintigraphy. Magnetic resonance imaging of the spine demonstrated infection involving the epidural space and paraspinal musculature and enhancement of the infected thoracic and lumbar facet joint after gadolinium injection.