• Manabu Ito, Kuniyoshi Abumi, Yoshihisa Kotani, Ken Kadoya, and Akio Minami.
• Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan. maito@med.hokudai.ac.jp
• Spine. 2007 Jan 15;32(2):200-6.

Study DesignClinical results of posterolateral endoscopic debridement and irrigation followed by percutaneous drainage for pyogenic spondylodiscitis were analyzed.ObjectivesTo report clinical results of transforaminal endoscopic surgery for pyogenic spondylodiscitis and to evaluate the effectiveness of this procedure in treatment of pyogenic spinal infections.Summary Of Background DataPyogenic spinal infections have been increasing due to the development of medical treatment for patients with comorbid medical problems. Common treatments for spinal infections are administration of antibiotics or surgical debridement with bone grafts. There have been no reports, however, regarding the clinical outcome of posterolateral endoscopic treatment for pyogenic spinal infections.MethodsFifteen consecutive patients with pyogenic spondylodiscitis in the thoracic or lumbar spine were enrolled. Preoperative antibiotic treatment had failed in all the patients. The procedures consisted of posterolateral endoscopic debridement and irrigation followed by percutaneous drainage through single portal under the combination of local and intravenous anesthesia. Pain response using visual analog scale (VAS, 0-100 mm), inflammation parameters, and duration of antibiotic therapy were investigated. Radiologic evaluation focused on bony fusion, local kyphosis, disc height reduction, and abscess formation.ResultsAll patients showed immediate pain reduction after surgery. Averaged VAS for pain was 86 before surgery and 25 at postoperative 1 week. Average of CRP was 4.00 mg/dL before surgery and 1.88 mg/dL at postoperative 1 week. Averaged duration of antibiotics therapy was 3.7 weeks. Spinal fusion was obtained in 13 patients. Two patients with neurologic deficits due to epidural abscess returned to normal. Preoperative psoas abscess in 6 patients disappeared after surgery on MRI.ConclusionsPosterolateral spinal endoscopic debridement and irrigation brought immediate pain reduction and good clinical results to patients who had comorbid medical problems and had pyogenic spondylodiscitis.

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