An Atypical Presentation of Spondylodiscitis Following a Fall in an Elderly Patient: A Diagnostic Challenge.

Spondylodiscitis is an uncommon but serious infection of the intervertebral disc space. Because its symptoms are often vague, diagnosis can be delayed, particularly in older patients. We describe the case of an 80-year-old woman who presented after an unwitnessed fall with persistent musculoskeletal pain and markedly raised inflammatory markers. Initial investigations, including imaging and microbiological testing, did not identify a clear source of infection. However, a repeat MRI of the spine on day 19 of admission confirmed discitis. Following targeted intravenous antibiotic treatment, she showed a clear clinical and biochemical response. This case highlights how challenging discitis can be to recognize in elderly patients and reinforces the importance of repeat imaging and multidisciplinary collaboration when clinical suspicion remains high.