Emphysematous Osteomyelitis of the Lumbar Spine and Sacrum After Liver Transplantation: A Case Report

Abstract

Emphysematous osteomyelitis (EO) is a rare and potentially fatal disease that often occurs in patients with underlying conditions, most commonly diabetes mellitus. Herein, we report a case of a 62-year-old man who presented with fever, tachycardia, and hypotension 112 days after liver transplantation. Blood tests revealed an increased inflammatory response. Computed tomography demonstrated clusters of small gas collections in the first and second lumbar vertebral bodies and the right sacral ala, a finding characteristic of the pumice stone sign of EO. Septic shock due to EO was diagnosed. The patient responded well to treatment and recovered from the infection. This case suggests that the immunosuppressive state after liver transplantation is a risk factor for EO.