Pseudomonas cervical osteomyelitis in a polytrauma patient.

Cervical osteomyelitis, an uncommon disease, is rarely associated with Pseudomonas organisms in non-drug-users. This report describes a case of cervical vertebral osteomyelitis associated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia following panfacial trauma and closed head injury. Delays in diagnosing vertebral osteomyelitis are common because of the nonspecific nature of the history and the initial absence of clinical evidence, both of which may help to foster a generally low index of suspicion.