Emergency 1-stage anterior approach for cervical spine infection complicated by epidural abscess

It was a retrospective analysis. The aim of the study was to explore the safety and reliability of emergency 1-stage radical debridement and reconstruction using titanium mesh filled with autologous bone for patients with cervical spine infection complicated by epidural abscess. At present, cervical spine infection complicated by epidural abscess is known as a severe spine disease. Recently, case report of this disease is showing quite an increasing tendency, particularly in economically undeveloped areas and countries. Regarding the treatment of this disease, 1-stage radical debridement and reconstruction has been widely adopted; however, emergency 1-stage anterior approach surgery without medication is considered as a relatively taboo, since it is generally acknowledged that such operation would possibly cause unexpected infection. Nevertheless, regular elective surgery may require longer time for preparation. In addition, long hour compression and stimulation of the abscess may leave the patients with irreversible spinal neural impairment. However, our department has finished 14 cases of cervical spine infection complicated with epidural abscess without 1 single case of postoperative infection. A retrospective study was conducted on 14 patients (9 males and 5 females; average age 57.4 years) who were diagnosed with cervical spine infection complicated by epidural abscess from January 2005 to December 2014. All the patients were admitted to hospital with varying degrees of neurological function losses, and then underwent 1-stage anterior focal debridement and reconstruction using titanium mesh within 24 hours after admission. They received postoperative standard antibiotic chemotherapy for 10 to 12 weeks. They were followed up for 18 to 36 months, an average of 27.4 months. X-ray, computed tomography (CT), and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were used to determine the fusion state and vertebral stability. American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) international standards for neurological classification were adopted, white blood cell count (WBC), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and C-reactive protein (CRP) were evaluated to infection activity, and Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) and visual analog scale (VAS) criteria were used to judge clinical efficacy. All the 14 patients had no postoperative spread of infection. No recurrence of infection was found during the last follow-up. ASIA grade, VAS score, and JOA score were significantly improved (P < .05) after the operation. WBC, ESR, and CRP became normal after the operation (P < .05). Postoperative follow-up imaging results showed no significant loss of cervical curvature, collapse of the grafted bone or implant displacement but good spinal canal volume. Emergency 1-stage radical debridement and reconstruction using titanium mesh filled with autologous bone, combined with antibiotic chemotherapy, is a safe and effective surgical therapy for cervical infection complicated by epidural abscess.