Wide Variability of the Definitions Used for Native Vertebral Osteomyelitis: Walking the Path for a Unified Diagnostic Framework with a Meta-Epidemiological Approach

Native Vertebral Osteomyelitis (NVO) has seen a rise in incidence, yet clinical outcomes remain poor with high relapse rates and significant long-term sequelae. The 2015 IDSA Clinical Practice Guidelines initiated a surge in scholarly activity on NVO, revealing a patchwork of definitions and numerous synonyms used interchangeably for this syndrome.