Transpedicular curettage and drainage versus combined anterior and posterior surgery in infectious spondylodiscitis

BACKGROUND: Hematogeneous infectious spondylodiscitis usually occurs in older immunocompromised patients with other comorbidities. They are usually unable to undergo reconstructive anterior and posterior surgeries. Therefore, an alternative, less aggressive surgical method of transpedicular curettage and drainage was suggested. This study was designed to compare the surgical outcomes for the treatment of hematogeneous infectious spondylodiscitis between transpedicular curettage and drainage technique and conventional combined anterior and posterior surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 2002 and July 2011, 26 patients underwent surgical treatment for hematogeneous infectious spondylodiscitis. The patients were classified into two groups depending on surgical modality: a transpedicular curettage and drainage (TCD) group and a combined anterior and posterior surgery (CAPS) group. RESULTS: The TCD group consisted of 10 patients (mean age 68.0 years), and the CAPS group consisted of 16 patients (mean age 58.4 years). The mean postoperative followup periods were 36.9 (months) in the TCD group and 69.9 (months) in the CAPS group. The operation time was 180.6 ± 33.6 minutes in the TCD group and 332.7 ± 74.5 minutes in the CAPS group (P < 0.05). Postoperative independent ambulation began at postoperative 4.9 ± 2.4 days in the TCD group but at postoperative 15.1 ± 15.3 days in the CAPS group (P < 0.05). The postoperative hospital stays were 19.9 ± 7.8 days in the TCD group and 35.4 ± 33.3 days in the CAPS group (P < 0.05). The level of C-reactive proteins decreased significantly in both groups after surgery (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Transpedicular curettage and drainage technique proved to be a useful technique for treating hematogeneous infectious spondylodiscitis in patients who were in poor heath with multiple comorbidities unable to undergo the conventional combined anterior and posterior surgery in a single day in terms of earlier ambulation, shorter hospitalization and similar clinical success rate.