Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 13, 2026
01:24
Full-Endoscopic Transforaminal Approach for Lumbar Discectomy
Published on: September 8, 2023
Candida parapsilosis spondylodiscitis after lumbar discectomy
Kyungil Cho1, Sun-Ho Lee, Eun-Sang Kim
1Department of Neurosurgery, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
|May 13, 2010
Summary
This study reports a rare case of Candida parapsilosis causing spinal infection after lumbar discectomy. Prompt surgical intervention and antifungal treatment led to a full recovery.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Neurosurgery
- Mycology
Background:
- Spinal infections are uncommon, with Candida species rarely implicated, primarily affecting immunocompromised individuals.
- Lumbar discectomy is a surgical procedure to treat spinal disc issues.
Observation:
- A 70-year-old woman developed persistent back and leg pain two months post-lumbar discectomy.
- MRI revealed an L5-S1 intervertebral space lesion suggestive of pyogenic discitis and epidural abscess.
Findings:
- Surgical removal of infected material from L5-S1 intervertebral space.
- Histopathology confirmed chronic inflammation, and cultures identified Candida parapsilosis.
- The patient successfully completed 4 weeks of intravenous and 3 months of oral fluconazole treatment.
Implications:
- This case highlights Candida parapsilosis as a potential pathogen in post-surgical spinal infections.
- Effective treatment involves surgical debridement and targeted antifungal therapy (fluconazole).
- Early diagnosis and management are crucial for favorable outcomes in rare fungal spondylodiscitis.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Herniated Intervertebral Disc l: Introduction
Intervertebral disc herniation refers to the displacement of the nucleus pulposus (the gel-like inner core of the disc) through a tear or weakened area in the annulus fibrosus (the outer fibrous ring). The displaced disc material extends beyond the normal boundaries of the disc space and may compress or irritate nearby spinal nerve roots or, less commonly, the spinal cord.Etiology and Risk FactorsHerniation commonly results from degeneration, in which aging reduces disc hydration and...
01:23Degenerative Disc Disease ll: Pathophysiology
The symptoms of degenerative disc disease arise from a combination of mechanical compression, vascular compromise, and biochemical inflammation, which together disrupt nerve function and produce pain.Mechanical CompressionDisc degeneration reduces height and elasticity, predisposing to herniation of the nucleus pulposus, a major cause of radicular pain. Herniations may be protrusion (bulging with intact annulus), extrusion (nucleus extends beyond disc but remains connected), or sequestration...