Lumbar Spine Mucormycosis Mimicking Pott's Spine—A Case Report and Review of Literature

Spinal mucormycosis is a rare entity commonly seen in immunosuppressed patients and is extremely rare in immunocompetent individuals. We present a case of a 54-year-old man with known chronic liver disease (Child–Pugh grade C) who presented with spondylodiscitis and progressive paraplegia. Magnetic resonance imaging of the spine was performed and was suggestive of lumbar vertebral osteomyelitis with abscess formation—likely Pott's spine. The patient was managed with a laminectomy of the L3 vertebra. Microscopic examination revealed aseptate ribbon-like fungal hyphae, suggestive of Mucorales species. The patient was then managed with multiagent antifungal regimen consisting of intravenous amphotericin B, micafungin, and oral posaconazole. Spinal mucormycosis is a rare entity with limited literature and can masquerade as Pott's/bacterial abscess. High vigilance and familiarity are necessary for accurate diagnosis and management. This case illustrates that, in profoundly immunocompromised patients, prognosis may remain dismal with progression to multiorgan failure despite urgent decompression and aggressive multiagent antifungal therapy.