Surgical treatment of infectious spondylitis in patients undergoing hemodialysis therapy.

Treatment of infectious spondylitis in hemodialysis patients remains a challenge because of comorbidities. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on the clinical manifestations and surgical outcomes of patients with spinal infection. Sixteen patients who underwent surgical intervention were included. There were 3 thoracic and 13 lumbar lesions. All patients presented with intractable back pain at the start of treatment. Six patients had a fever, nine had inflammation at the hemodialysis access site, and six of them had concomitant bacteremia. Ten patients had an elevated leukocyte count. Serological tests indicated an elevation of the C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate level in all patients. Five patients had a neurological compromise. Postoperative complications included two mortalities, two iliac bone graft and implant dislodgement, and one retroperitoneal wound dehiscence. The preoperative mean visual analog scale score was 7.7 (range, 6-9), which improved to 3.4 (range, 2-5) at the final follow-up for 14 surviving patients. Neurological improvement was obtained by at least one grade in four Frankel C category patients. The radiographs revealed a good bony fusion in 12 cases although with a variable bone graft subsidence. In conclusion, early diagnosis of infectious spondylitis is difficult due to latent symptoms. A spine infection should be suspected in hemodialysis patients with severe back pain, even when they are afebrile. Surgical intervention for infectious spondylitis in ESRD patients undergoing hemodialysis can be performed with acceptable outcomes; however, the complication and mortality rates are relative high.

Percutaneous endoscopic debridement and drainage in immunocompromised patients with complicated infectious spondylitis.

Percutaneous endoscopic debridement and drainage (PEDD) has been reported to be an effective procedure in treating early infectious spondylodiscitis. However, it is not clear whether PEDD can be effective in treating cases of complicated infectious spondylitis with significant abscess formation or vertebral destruction. Two women and four men with poor general health and complicated pyogenic spondylitis who underwent PEDD were evaluated. The causative bacteria were identified by PEDD in five of six. All six patients presented with spinal pain. Five patients reported relief from back pain within one week of surgery and recovered uneventfully after full course, specific, antimicrobial therapy. C-reactive protein (CRP) values returned to normal ranges within two to 22 weeks in these patients. The follow-up magnetic resonance imaging studies revealed that the paraspinal abscesses or epidural abscesses were resolved. No surgery-related complications were noted during or after the PEDD procedure. In conclusion, PEDD was effective in treating complicated infectious spondylitis. We propose that PEDD is an effective alternative to extensive surgery for complicated infectious spondylitis, especially in patients with multiple comorbidities.

Long-term results of disc excision for recurrent lumbar disc herniation with or without posterolateral fusion.

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study assessing the long-term outcomes of repeat surgery for recurrent lumbar disc herniation. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the results of repeat surgery for recurrent disc herniation, and compare the results of disc excision with and without posterolateral fusion. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The outcomes of revision surgery varied owing to the mixed patient populations. The optimal technique for treating recurrent disc herniation is controversial. METHODS: The sample included 41 patients who underwent disc excision with or without posterolateral fusion, with an average follow-up of 88.7 months (range, 60-134 months). Clinical symptoms were assessed based on the Japanese Orthopedic Association Back Scores. All medical and surgical records were examined and analyzed, including pain-free interval, intraoperative blood loss, length of surgery, and postsurgery hospital stay. RESULTS: Clinical outcome was excellent or good in 80.5% of patients, including 78.3% of patients undergoing a discectomy alone, and 83.3% of patients with posterolateral fusion. The recovery rate was 82.2%, and the difference between the fusion and nonfusion groups was insignificant (P = 0.799). The difference in the postoperative back pain score was also insignificant (P = 0.461). These two groups were not different in terms of age, pain-free interval, and follow-up duration. Intraoperative blood loss, length of surgery, and length of hospitalization were significantly less in patients undergoing discectomy alone than in patients with fusion. CONCLUSIONS: Repeat surgery for recurrent sciatica is effective in cases of true recurrent disc herniation. Disc excision alone is recommended for managing recurrent disc herniation.

Computer-assisted fluoroscopic navigation of pedicle screw insertion: an in vivo feasibility study.

BACKGROUND: Accurate placement of pedicle screws is difficult. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We evaluated the feasibility and accuracy of pedicle screw insertion assisted by a real-time, 2-dimensional (2D) image-guided navigation system in 12 patients who underwent thoraco-lumbar and/or lumbar stabilization. 66 pedicle screws were inserted either by senior spine surgeons or residents. The accuracy of positioning of the screws was evaluated using postoperative plain radiographs and thin-cut CT. RESULTS: 61 of the 66 screws were inserted successfully. 5 screw insertions showed structural violations: 4 on the medial and 1 on the lateral pedicle wall. The accuracy was higher in the sagittal plane than in the axial plain. There was no difference between the surgical error rates caused by the senior surgeons and the residents. INTERPRETATION: Using computer-assisted 2D fluoroscopic image navigation, it is possible to achieve reliable and accurate pedicle screw insertion during low thoracic and lumbar spinal surgery.