Debridement and spinal instrumentation as a single-stage procedure in bacterial spondylitis/spondylodiscitis

The best surgical technique for patients with bacterial spinal infections is still discussed controversially. But recent publications suggest that titanium implants can be used safely in infectious sites in combination with debridement and antibiotic therapy. The purpose of this study is to provide further evidence in support of debridement and instrumentation as a single-stage procedure for spinal infection.

Twenty-four cases with cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spondylitis/spondylodiscitis were analyzed. In 17 cases, anterolateral stabilization was performed with titanium cages. No autologous or homologous bone grafts were used. Transpedicular screw/rod fixation following posterior debridement of the intervertebral space was performed in the other 7 cases.

WBC and C-reactive protein levels decreased significantly after surgical debridement. Pain levels decreased from a preoperative median of 4 (on the Denis Pain Scale) to a postoperative median of 2. Twenty-two of the 24 patients were fully mobilized within 2 weeks after surgery. The Barthel Index improved from 60 (10-85) before surgery to 90 (65-100) after surgery. No recurrence of the initial infection was noticed during a mean follow-up period of 18 months. The fusion rate was 90.5%. The mortality rate was 1 out of 24 (4.2%).

These findings support the position that debridement and instrumented fusion can be performed as a single-stage procedure without an increase in the recurrence rate or morbidity, compared with the use of autologous bone grafting or staged procedures. Same-stage instrumentation allows early postoperative mobilization of the patient, which is advantageous, especially for an increasingly elderly population and in patients with comorbidities.