title: Postoperative disc space infection after discectomy: a report on thirty-five patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The focus of this study was to analyse the patient with disc space infection and the need for re-exploration.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-five patients were analysed within the period from April 1992 and May 2011. The diagnosis was confirmed by the cardinal clinical features, raised erythrocyte sedimentation rate [ESR], raised C-reactive protein and MRI findings. All received 500-mg intravenous amikacin and one gram ceftriaxone at the time of anaesthetic induction and six hours after surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Age range was between 25-62 years. The appearance of symptoms was between four days and three weeks. Nine patients had silent chronic urinary tract infection. Twenty-nine patients had re-exploration while the others did well on conservative treatment. Neurological deficit was not recorded. All recovered well within six to nine months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Re-exploration is recommended if no response is achieved after four day's conservative treatment for or if the patient's condition is critical.
authors.affiliation: Basrah Medical College, Basrah, Iraq. thamerhamdan_170@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Thamer A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Hamdan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D015897:Comorbidity; D015299:Discitis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D017586:Diskectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D020802:Epidural Abscess / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007796:Laminectomy; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012086:Reoperation; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery*