title: [Operative therapy of bacterial spondylodiscitis: a retrospective study].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Bacterial spondylodiscitis is a rare entity in spinal surgery. This study analyses the postoperative results of 53 patients, focusing on the history, the treatment, and the course of the disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective study is based on the patients' medical charts, including the laboratory and microbiological data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-nine patients suffered from different neurological deficits ranging from isolated mild hypaesthesia (n=1) to complete paraplegia (n=6). Depending on the affected area and the extension of the infection, surgery was done either as simple decompression in 16 cases or as decompression combined with a ventral or dorsoventral stabilization in 37 patients. Staphylococcus aureus was the most important triggering organism (n=23). After a median follow-up of 11.25 months, three patients had died, and 22 patients were still disabled because of persisting pain or neurological disturbances.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Because of persistent neurological deficits and possible lethal complications, spondylodiscitis remains a severe problem. Management comprises targeted antibiotic therapy and surgery in selected cases.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Neurochirurgie, Klinikum der Friedrich Schiller-Universität, Erlanger Allee 101, 07747, Jena, Deutschland. Christian.ewald@med.uni-jena.de
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ewald
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gartemann
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Kuhn
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Walter
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kalff
mesh_terms: D019299:Decompression, Surgical; D015299:Discitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013123:Spinal Fusion; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome