Posterior transpedicular stabilisation of the infected spine

BACKGROUND: Six men and seven women, aged 62 years, bedridden due to back pain from a septic spondylitis in the thoracolumbar region and not responding to conservative treatment, were operated on with transpedicular stabilisation of the affected segments to enhance mobilisation. All patients experienced immediately reduced back pain, allowing them to leave their bed and start mobilisation during the first postoperative day. At follow-up after a mean of 29 months (range 13-60 months) only one was using analgesics. RESULTS: Nine of the 11 patients with pathological neurology at surgery had improved, none had deteriorated, and all were ambulatory without bladder or bowel disturbances. Seven had achieved a solid interbody fusion, with a continued radiographic decrease in the spondylitic change in the rest, indicating that a progressive interbody fusion was in progress. Three individuals had increased kyphosis, a mean of 11 deg compared with the postoperative radiographs.