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Infection of intervertebral discs after operation
The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. British Volume
|February 1, 1976
Summary
Postoperative disc space infection is a rare complication after lumbar disc surgery. Early diagnosis and surgical removal of infected material can lead to complete pain relief and infection cure.
Area of Science:
- Neurosurgery
- Infectious Disease
Background:
- Infection of the intervertebral space is a rare but serious complication following operative procedures on the intervertebral disc.
- This complication can lead to significant patient morbidity, including persistent pain and neurological deficits.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report the incidence, clinical presentation, diagnostic methods, and treatment outcomes of postoperative intervertebral disc space infections.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective review of 650 patients who underwent lumbar disc protrusion surgery.
- Analysis of five cases presenting with symptoms suggestive of disc space infection.
- Diagnostic confirmation using Myodil (iophendylate) rescreening and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR).
Main Results:
- An incidence of 0.8% for postoperative disc space infection was observed in the series.
- Symptoms, including severe back pain and leg cramps, appeared 7-12 days post-operation.
- Elevated ESR and characteristic findings on Myodil rescreening confirmed the diagnosis in all cases.
Conclusions:
- Postoperative disc space infection, though rare, requires prompt recognition and management.
- Early surgical intervention involving the removal of infected disc material is effective in achieving pain relief and resolving the infection.