VERTEBRAL BONE DESTRUCTION IN SICKLE-CELL DISEASE - INFECTION, INFARCTION OR BOTH

Infectious and vaso-occlusive vertebral bone and joint destruction in two patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) are featured by H-shaped v ertebrae, kyphotic angulation, osteolysis of endplates and collapse of intervertebral discs as shown by X-ray films and magnetic resonance i maging, Staphylococcal serology supported the diagnosis of staphylococ cal osteomyelitis/spondylo-discitis in both SCD patients. The difficul ties of establishing the causes and treatment of the osteoarthropathy in these particular cases are discussed in the Light of the literature .