Internal fixation for osteomyelitis of cervical spine: the issue of persistence of culture positive infection around the implants.
BACKGROUND
We describe the management of osteomyelitis of the cervical spine, utilizing internal fixation with subsequent removal and culture of the implants. Four out of five patients had evidence of bacterial colonisation in close proximity to the internal fixation device.


METHODS
Five consecutive patients (all female, ranging in age from 50 to 74 yrs) presenting with unstable cervical osteomyelitis were treated by surgical decompression, primary internal fixation followed by three months of intravenous antibiotics. The internal fixation was removed in 4 out of 5 cases within a year of stopping the intravenous regime. The remaining patient was deemed medically unfit for further operation. Multiple specimens from the screw sites were taken at the time of metal removal. A final course of oral antibiotics was prescribed based on the results of these specimens.


RESULTS
Four patients, who had removal of the implants, had positive cultures growing different bacteria from the primary infection, at the time of removal of the implant. None of the patients developed instability after removal of the implant.


CONCLUSIONS
Asymptomatic bacterial colonisation of a metallic implant has profound management implications. We recommend long-term oral antibiotic regimes after insertion of internal fixation devices in the face of infection and eventual removal of these implants and microbiological re-sampling.
Shad
A
A
Department of Neurosurgery, Oxford Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK.
Shariff
S
S
Fairbank
J
J
Byren
I
I
Teddy
P J M A D
PJ
Cadoux-Hudson
T A D
TA
D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D020878:Device Removal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016268:Internal Fixators / Q000382:microbiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D013123:Spinal Fusion; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013212:Staphylococcus epidermidis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013997:Time Factors
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents