[Diagnosis and treatment of postoperative intervertebral infectio].
OBJECTIVE
To retrospectively explore the diagnosis and treatment of postoperative lumbar intervertebral disc infection.


METHODS
Twelve patients who suffered from postoperative lumbar intervertebral disc infection between April 1995 and September 2004 were confirmed doubtlessly by the diagnosis. They were treated with early immobilization combined with early and sufficient antibiotics and adequate corticosteroid. Patients with severe symptoms were managed by percutaneous puncture and washing discectomy such as rising temperature and perivertebral muscle spasm besides nostalgia, and early debridement of all necrotic tissue was done.


RESULTS
Six were healed by non-operation and operation in the other 6. All had gotten locomotion with corset after the operation for 6-8 weeks and were followed-up from 6 months to 3 years. They have achieved excellent outcomes.


CONCLUSIONS
When a postoperative disc space infection occurs, early diagnosis and treatment should be undertaken to achieve excellent outcomes.
Department of Orthopaedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China. wqlwqwxy@163.com
Xi-yang
XY
Wang
Jian-zhong
JZ
Hu
Wen-he
WH
Liu
Kang-hua
KH
Li
D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003348:Cortisone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017586:Diskectomy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000601:surgery*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D003348:Cortisone