Figure 3.

A 42-year-old woman with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus and obesity, and MRSA infection 1 year after L3-L5 laminectomy and spinal instrumentation. (A) Sagittal and (B) axial MR imaging show abscess formation and implants loosening at the site of instrumentation. She was treated with surgical debridement and implants removal followed by a 6-month antibiotics regimen; (C) Lateral radiograph and (D) sagittal CT scan of the lumbar spine show erosion of L5-S1 vertebrae (thin arrow) and extensive scar tissue formation (thick arrow).