Cervical spine infection arising from chronic paronychia: A case report and review of literature

Figure 1 Admission X-ray and computed tomography. A: Anterior-posterior X-ray image of cervical vertebra; B: Lateral X-ray view of cervical vertebra; C: Coronal computed tomography (CT) view of cervical vertebra; D: Sagittal CT view of cervical vertebra; E: Axial CT view of cervical vertebra (level C5).

Figure 2 Preoperative magnetic resonance imaging. A: Sagittal T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of cervical vertebra; B: Sagittal T2-weighted MRI with fat suppression; C: Axial T2-weighted MRI of cervical vertebra (level C5); D: Axial T2-weighted MRI with fat suppression of cervical vertebra (level C5).

Figure 3 Appearance of the big toe and postoperative pathology of C5 vertebra. A: Onychocryptosis and paronychia of the big toe (left); B: Onychocryptosis and paronychia of the big toe (right); C: Surgical specimen from C5 vertebra; D: Histological examination (hematoxylin and eosin staining, 40 × under microscope) reveals purulent necrosis and inflammatory infiltrate in the bone trabeculae of C5 vertebra.

Figure 4 Postoperative follow-up imaging. A: Anterior-posterior X-ray image of cervical vertebra (2 days after operation); B: Lateral X-ray view of cervical vertebra (2 days after operation); C: Sagittal T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of cervical vertebra (12 days after operation); D: Sagittal T2-weighted MRI with fat suppression (12 days after operation); E: Axial T2-weighted MRI of cervical vertebra (level C5) (12 days after operation); F and G: X-ray of cervical vertebra (3 months after operation); H: Coronal computed tomography (CT) view of cervical vertebra (3 months after operation); I: Sagittal CT view of cervical vertebra (3 months after operation); J: Axial CT of cervical vertebra (level C4) (3 months after operation); K and L: X-ray of cervical vertebra (12 months after operation); M: Coronal CT view of cervical vertebra; N: Sagittal CT view of cervical vertebra (12 months after operation); O: Axial CT of cervical vertebra (level C4) (12 months after operation); P and Q: X-ray of cervical vertebra (24 months after operation); R: Coronal CT view of cervical vertebra (24 months after operation); S: Sagittal CT view of cervical vertebra (24 months after operation); T: Axial CT of cervical vertebra (level C4) (24 months after operation); U and V: X-ray of cervical vertebra (36 months after operation); W: Coronal CT view of cervical vertebra (36 months after operation); X: Sagittal CT view of cervical vertebra (36 months after operation); Y: Axial CT of cervical vertebra (level C5) (36 months after operation).