Short-term functional outcome and pain assessment after spinal decompression for spondylodiscitis

Area of Science:

• Spinal surgery
• Infectious diseases
• Microbiology

Background:

• Spondylodiscitis is a rare but severe spinal infection potentially leading to disability or death.
• Infections can be pyogenic (e.g., Staphylococcus aureus), granulomatous (e.g., tuberculosis, fungal), or parasitic.
• Pain and neurological deficits arise from bone destruction, deformity, and mass effect.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of posterior decompression surgery, instrumental fixation, and deformity correction in treating spondylodiscitis.
• To assess the impact of surgical intervention on pain, neurological deficits, and functional outcomes.
• To emphasize the importance of microbiological diagnosis for guiding treatment.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study of 67 patients with spondylodiscitis between February 2013 and May 2020.
• Patients underwent posterior decompression, specimen collection for microbiology, transpedicular fixation, and deformity correction.
• Inclusion criteria: spinal pain, neurological deficit, radiological confirmation, and positive microbiology. Exclusions: <18 years, multiple surgeries, degenerative or conservative cases.

Main Results:

• Lumbar involvement was most common (73.13%).
• Pain scores (VAS) significantly improved at 6 weeks and 3 months post-surgery.
• All patients showed functional improvement in Oswestry Disability Index and Frankel grades post-operatively.

Conclusions:

• Surgical intervention is effective for pain relief, deformity correction, and functional improvement in spondylodiscitis.
• Obtaining microbiological diagnosis during decompression is critical for targeted therapy.
• Accurate diagnosis aids in minimizing antibiotic resistance and optimizing patient outcomes.