Objective To investigate the diagnosis and effectiveness of surgical treatment for lumbar pyogenic spondyl itis. Methods Between February 2005 and June 2010, 15 cases of lumbar pyogenic spondyl itis were treated. There were 10 males and 5 females with an average age of 48.6 years (range, 26-72 years). Affected segments included L2, 3 in 3 cases,L3, 4 in 3 cases, L4, 5 in 8 cases, and L5, S1 in 1 case. All cases had cl inical manifestations of moderate or severe fever, local pain of lesion, and l imitation of the spinal movement; 10 patients had nerve root symptoms, and 8 patients had symptoms of lower limb paraplegia. Leukocyte, C-reactive protein (CRP), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) significantly increased in all cases. The preoperative X-ray and CT examinations showed no clear bone destruction; MRI showed decreased signal intensity on T1WI and increased signal intensity on T2WI, 7 cases had local ized abscess formation. The patients underwent focal cleaning and bone grafting and fusion combined with internal fixation, including anterior operation in 13 cases, posterior operation in 1 case, and combined anterior and posterior operation in 1 case. The results of bacterial culture were positive in 10 cases. According to the results of intraoperative bacterial cultures, sensitive antibiotics were selected. Results Healing of incision by first intention was achieved in 14 cases, healing by second intention in 1 case. After 2 weeks, 1 case recurred and symptoms was rel iefed after symptomatic treatment. Back pain and (or) lower limb pain were obviously improved in the other patients; body temperature recovered to normal after 3-4 days; leukocyte, ESR, and CRP significantly decreased. All the patients were followed up 12 to 70 months with an average of 35.4 months.The patients had no rejection, no fistula formation, no lumbar kyphosis, and no fixator loosening or breakage. The bony fusion time was 4-8 months. Conclusion Combination of cl inical manifestations, laboratory tests, and MRI can diagnose lumbar pyogenic spondyl itis, of which CRP is an important indicator to determine progression of the disease, and MRI is important for diagnosis. Debridement combined with interbody fusion and internal fixation is a safe and effective treatment method.
Objective To introduce operation skill of the spinal wedge osteotomy by posterior approach for correction of severe rigid scol iosis and to discuss the selection of the indications and the range of fusion and fixation. Methods Between July 1999 and January 2009, 23 patients with severe rigid scol iosis were treated with spinal wedge osteotomy by posterior approach, including 16 congenital scol iosis, 5 idiopathic scol iosis, and 2 neurofibromatosis scol iosis. There were 11 males and 12 females with a median age of 15 years (range, 8-29 years). Two patients had previous surgery history. The Cobb’s angles of scol iosis and kyphosis before operation were (85.39 ± 13.51)° and (56.78 ± 17.69)°, respectively. The mean spinal flexibil ity was 14.4% (range, 4.7%-22.5%). The trunk shift was (15.61 ± 4.89) mm. The preoperative CT or MRI showed bony septum in the canal in 2 patients. Results The mean operative time was 241 minutes and the mean blood loss was 1 452 mL. The average fused vertebrae were 10.7 segaments (range, 8-14 segaments). The follow-up ranged from 1 to 4 years with an average of 2 years and 6 months. The postoperative Cobb’s angle of scol iosis was (38.70 ± 6.51)°, the average correction rate was 54.7%. The postoperative Cobb’s angle of kyphosis was (27.78 ± 6.01)°, the average correction rate was 51.0%. The trunk shift was improved to (4.69 ± 1.87) mm, the increased height was 5.2 cm on average (range, 2.8-7.7 cm). The Cobb’s angle of scol iosis was (41.57 ± 6.80)° with an average 2.9° loss of correction at the final follow-up; the Cobb’s angle of kyphosis was (30.39 ± 5.94)° with an average 2.6° loss of correction at the final follow-up; the trunk shift was (4.78 ± 2.00) mm at the final follow-up. There were significant differences (P lt; 0.05) in the Cobb’s angles of scol iosis and kyphosis and the trunk shift between preoperation and postoperation, between preoperation and last follow-up. Four cases had pedicle fracture, 1 had L1 nerve root injury, 2 had superior mesenteric artery syndrome, 1 had exudates of incision, and 2 had temporary dysfunction of both lower extremity. Conclusion Spinal wedge osteotomy by posterior approach is a rel iable and safe surgical technique for correcting severe rigid scol iosis. With segmental pedical screw fixation, both the spinal balance and stabil ity can be restored.