Needle aspiration/biopsy of the spine in suspected disc infection

Closed needle aspiration/biopsy was performed in 19 patients with suspected spinal disc space infection. A precise diagnosis was made, from the material obtained in 13 (68%); the infecting organism was isolated in 11 and malignant tumour diagnosed histologically in two. There were no important complications. The procedure which is described in detail is simple to perform and can be carried out early in the course of a patient's stay in hospital, thereby enabling prompt treatment.