title: Anterior cervical discectomy, drainage and non-instrumented cortico-cancellous allograft fusion: a treatment option for ventral cervical spinal epidural abscess.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ventral cervical spinal epidural abscess is a very rare clinical condition with a relatively high morbidity and mortality. Due to the paucity of reported cases there is heterogeneity and no clear "gold standard" in the treatment of these patients.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The authors report four consecutive patients with ventral cervical spinal epidural abscess treated with anterior cervical discectomy, abscess drainage and original non-instrumented cortico-cancellous allograft spinal fusion.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors retrospectively reviewed a series of four patients treated for ventral cervical epidural spinal abscess. All patients were treated with an urgent operation. Anterior cervical discectomy, abscess drainage, and non-instrumented cortico-cancellous allograft spinal fusion followed by cervical immobilization and systemic antibiotic treatment were utilized.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The bone fusion occurred within a mean of 3.5 months of follow-up. No significant radiologic or clinical evidence of graft subsidence was noted after a minimum of 2.5 years follow-up. All patients resolved infection and were neurologically intact. No complications of treatment were noted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Urgent operative treatment with anterior cervical discectomy, abscess drainage and non-instrumented cortico-cancellous allograft spinal fusion, followed by immobilization and the appropriate systemic antibiotic treatment is an effective original modification for the treatment and resolution of ventral cervical epidural spinal abscess.
authors: Semmes-Murphey Clinic and Department of Neurosurgery, University of Tennessee, Memphis, TN, USA. kenanarnaut@yahoo.com
authors: Kenan I
authors: KI
authors: Arnautovic
authors: Rodney G
authors: RG
authors: Olinger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016025:Bone Transplantation; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D017586:Diskectomy; D004322:Drainage; D020802:Epidural Abscess / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005601:Framycetin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011182:Postoperative Care; D013123:Spinal Fusion; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous
chemical_list: D005601:Framycetin