ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: There is no report on the treatment of suppurative discitis with posterior microendoscopic discectomy, antibiotic artificial bone implantation and one-stage percutaneous pedicle screw fixation. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical effectiveness of posterior microendoscopic debridement, antibiotic artificial bone implantation and one-stage percutaneous pedicle screw fixation for pyogenic spondylodiscitis. METHODS: Thirty-one patients with suppurative discitis admitted at the Department of Spinal Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University from January 2014 to December 2017, including 17 males and 14 females, aged 28-78 years, were included. All the patients underwent posterior microendoscopic lesion clearance and antibiotic artificial bone grafting and one-stage percutaneous pedicle screw fixation. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein levels were detected at postoperative follow-up. The Visual Analog Scale and the Japanese Orthopaedic Association scores were used for detection. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) All the surgical operations of the 31 patients were successfully completed and all patients had immediate relief of low back pain and lower extremity radiation pain. They were able to move ground wearing a waistband at 1-4 days postoperatively. (2) Thirty-one patients were followed up for 9-18 months. All patients had a significant decrease in C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate at 1 week after surgery, and C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were in the normal range at 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively. (3) The Visual Analog Scale scores of all patients at 1 week of follow-up were significantly lower than those before surgery (P < 0.05) , and the Japanese Orthopaedic Association scores were significantly higher than those before surgery (P < 0.05) . (4) In the follow-up examination of CT and MRI, there was no recurrence, pseudoarticular formation or internal fixation loosening. (5) These results suggest that posterior microendoscopic discectomy, antibiotic artificial bone implantation combined with one-stage percutaneous pedicle screw fixation for treating suppurative discitis can result in little trauma, few bleeding and rapid pain relief, and patients can move to the ground early. The operation method has a good clinical effect.