2Haseki Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi Enfeksiyon Hastalıkları ve Klinik Mikrobiyoloji Kliniği, İstanbul
3Bakırköy Ruh ve Sinir Hastalıkları Hastanesi III. Nöroşirürji Kliniği, İstanbul OBJECTIVES: Postoperative infection is an important factor in spinal surgery as it causes a morbidity rate which should not be underestimated. In this retrospective study, the effectiveness of the routine procedures and the ideal cascade to prevent this complication are discussed individually.
METHODS: In our retrospective study, 22 postoperative interspace infection cases out of 4108 patients who had simple lomber discectomy were investigated. Postoperative resistant pain, physical and neurological examination findings, laboratory results, imaging techniques and microbiological studies of the postoperative specimens were evaluated as clues for postoperative infection.
RESULTS: The examined 22 patients formed 0.5 % of the 4108 operated patients. The time needed for the symptoms to present was between 7 days and 18 mohths (36 days on average). For treatment; strict bed rest, immobilization, antibiotic therapy, analgesic and anti-inflammatory therapy were used. Reexploration of the interspace, debridement, drainage of the abscess and harvesting material for microbiological studies were used for 12 patients.
CONCLUSION: The risk of postoperative infection depends on the delicate balance between the patient and the microorganism. To combat this complication, a multidisciplinary approach by neurosurgery, infectious diseases and clinical microbiology departments is mandatory.
Anahtar Kelimeler : Discitis, complications of discectomy, postoperative intervertebral space infections, spondylodiscitis