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M6-C cervical disc replacement failure associated with late onset infection
Mary-Anne M Xia1, Mark J Winder1
1Department of Neurosurgery, St Vincent's Private Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Journal of Spine Surgery (Hong Kong)
|February 12, 2020
Summary
Cervical disc replacement can fail due to infection. This case shows an M6-C device failure linked to Propionibacterium acnes infection three years after surgery.
Area of Science:
- Spine surgery
- Infectious disease
Background:
- Cervical disc replacement is a common treatment for degenerative disc disease.
- Artificial disc prostheses are widely used in spinal reconstructive surgery.
Observation:
- A case of M6-C cervical disc replacement failure is presented.
- The failure occurred three years after the initial implantation surgery.
Findings:
- The failed M6-C disc replacement was associated with Propionibacterium acnes infection.
- Propionibacterium acnes is a known opportunistic pathogen.
Implications:
- This case highlights the risk of late-onset infection following cervical disc replacement.
- Propionibacterium acnes should be considered in the differential diagnosis of late-onset spinal implant infections.
- Further research into preventing and managing late-onset infections after disc arthroplasty is warranted.
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