Our study shows that the course of childhood spondylodiscitis is generally benign. Segmental orbony ankylosis may occur during the healing process but normally does not lead to serious functional deficits. Neurologic deficits were not observed in any of our patients. Conservative management must be intensive, but the results are good. Biopsy is not required except in the few cases where diagnostic uncertainty prevails.

Spondylitis is a rare disease in childhood and atypical symptoms frequently retard the diagnosis. From 1968 to 1988, 25 children with a diagnosis of spondylitis were treated in our orthopedic hospital. Anamneses, clinical symptoms, roentgenograms, and differential diagnoses are described for these cases. Spondylodiskitis represents a mild course of the disease in childhood. Tuberculous spondylitis was not present in any of the cases. The prognosis of childhood spondylitis is favorable, and surgical interventions were not necessary in our patients. Spondylitis healed with an ankylosis of one segment of the spine without essential disturbance of spinal function.