Predictive factors for positive disco-vertebral biopsy culture in pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis, and impact of fluoroscopic versus scanographic guidance.

Every patient with PVO and negative blood cultures should undergo a DVB. A thickening of the paravertebral tissue ≥10 mm on MRI is associated with a higher rate of positive DVB culture. A lumbar DVB under fluoroscopic guidance is more sensitive than under scanographic guidance to identify the micro-organism involved.