Study of the effectiveness of gentamycin injection in disc space during lumbar discectomy in prevention of postoperative discitis

This prospective study was performed on 150 patients operated upon by lumber discectomy. Seventy-five cases were treated by an injection of 2 ml ampoule of gentamycin in the disc space that was removed; while in the other 75, 2 ml ampoule of sterile water was injected in the disc space. The study showed six cases of postoperative discitis, all in the placebo group, and three cases were diabetics. All cases were in L4-5 disc space. The frequency of discitis was 6/150. In gentamycin group, the frequency was 0%; while in the placebo group, it was 8%. It was concluded that the intraoperative prophylaxis with gentamycin is effective in the prevention of postoperative discitis

Anterior cervical fixation in type-II traumatic spondylolisthesis of the axis: a report of eighteen cases, and discussing the rationale of management

Eighteen adult consecutive patients with type-II traumatic spondylolisthesis of the axis were included retrospectively in this study. The average age was 32.5 years. Fourteen were males and 4 were females. The cause of injury in all patients was road traffic accident but in 2 patients was a fall. Preoperatively, all patients were neurologically intact except two; one was tetra paretic and the other one was atypical brown Sequard's syndrome. Associated head trauma was reported in 5 patients and other cervical fractures in 5 patients. All patients were treated primarily with anterior C2/C3 auto graft and plating after closed reduction. Reduction was complete and healing was uneventful in all patients. there plating after closed reduction. There were no reported morbidity or mortality. Hospital stay was 8 days in 15 patients including the time of closed reduction. Both paretic patients recovered with minimal gait difficulty. Proper typing and grading of hangman's fractures is mandatory for a better management. Early surgical fusion is recommended for hangman's fractures of the effendi-type II and III. Anterior plating is a simple effective choice for hangman's fractures. It shortens hospital stay and skeletal tractions time