title: The anterior stand-alone approach (ASAA) during the acute phase of spondylodiscitis: results in 40 consecutively treated patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Spondylodiscitis mainly affects the anterior part of the spine. In this paper, we retrospectively analyze our experience with the anterior stand-alone approach (ASAA) in the treatment of spinal infections.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty consecutive patients with severe spondylodiscitis underwent the ASAA during the acute infective phase. Treatment consisted of disease debridement, vertebral body reconstruction using titanium expandable prostheses and anterior fixation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was neither mortality nor major morbidity. Successful arthrodesis was achieved in 39 out of 40 patients who remained disease free throughout the follow-up period. Six months after treatment, one patient experienced pseudarthrosis and required supplemented posterior spinal fixation for vertebral instability. However, adequate arthrodesis was eventually obtained even in this patient.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ASAA with spine reconstruction using synthetic materials during the acute infection phase was safe and effective. The infections were rapidly defeated, the patients were allowed to stand up early after the procedure and the length of hospital stay was significantly reduced.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Ospedale Niguarda Cà Granda Hospital, P zza Ospedale Maggiore 3, 20162 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: D'Aliberti
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Talamonti
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Villa
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Debernardi
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001174:Arthrodesis / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D003646:Debridement; D015299:Discitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D014025:Titanium; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D014025:Titanium