Postoperative disc space infection after discectomy: a report on thirty-five patients.

Abstract

The focus of this study was to analyse the patient with disc space infection and the need for re-exploration. 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. 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. Re-exploration is recommended if no response is achieved after four day's conservative treatment for or if the patient's condition is critical.