J Minim Invasive Spine Surg Tech.  2024 Jul;9(Suppl 2):S107-S116. 10.21182/jmisst.2024.01410.

Lateral Approach With and Without Posterior Stabilization for Lumbar Pyogenic Spondylodiscitis Treatment: A Retrospective Study With an Average Follow-up of 7 Years

• Bassani J
• Terrasa S
• Kido G
• Gruenberg M
• Petracchi M
• Solá C
• Duarte MP

• KMID: 2562256
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.21182/jmisst.2024.01410

Abstract

Objective
The aim of this study was to present the results after an average of 7-year follow-up in patients diagnosed with pyogenic spondylodiscitis (PS) treated with lumbar discectomy and fusion through minimally invasive lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF), with and without posterior stabilization.
Methods
In this retrospective analysis, patients diagnosed with PS treated with minimally invasive LLIF were studied. Variables included C-reactive protein (CRP), blood cultures, and findings on magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, and x-ray examinations. The classification of PS according to Pola was recorded.
Results
Twenty-one patients were male (70%) and 9 were female (30%), with an average age of 67.6 years (range, 33–85 years). The average follow-up was 83.2 months (range, 12–160 months). In 7 out of the 30 cases, treatment consisted exclusively of discectomy and anterior fusion through LLIF. Bone consolidation was observed in 27 out of 30 cases (90%), with an average postoperative CRP level of 5.77±5.00 mg/L at the end of follow-up.
Conclusion
The treatment of lumbar PS through debridement and minimally invasive LLIF, with or without posterior stabilization, resulted in infection control over an average follow-up of 83 months.

Keyword

Minimally invasive surgery; Lumbar pyogenic spondylodiscitis; Indications; Extreme lateral interbody fusion