[Operative therapy of bacterial spondylodiscitis: a retrospective study]. / Operative Therapie der bakteriellen Spondylodiszitis: Eine retrospektive Untersuchung.

OBJECTIVE: Bacterial spondylodiscitis is a rare entity in spinal surgery. This study analyses the postoperative results of 53 patients, focusing on the history, the treatment, and the course of the disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This retrospective study is based on the patients' medical charts, including the laboratory and microbiological data. RESULTS: Twenty-nine patients suffered from different neurological deficits ranging from isolated mild hypaesthesia (n=1) to complete paraplegia (n=6). Depending on the affected area and the extension of the infection, surgery was done either as simple decompression in 16 cases or as decompression combined with a ventral or dorsoventral stabilization in 37 patients. Staphylococcus aureus was the most important triggering organism (n=23). After a median follow-up of 11.25 months, three patients had died, and 22 patients were still disabled because of persisting pain or neurological disturbances. CONCLUSION: Because of persistent neurological deficits and possible lethal complications, spondylodiscitis remains a severe problem. Management comprises targeted antibiotic therapy and surgery in selected cases.