Valoración clínico-epidemiológica de las espondilodiscitis y resultado funcional tras su tratamiento: Serie de casos

Abstract

Introduction: The spondylodiscitis is an osteomyelitis with a few special and different characteristics. Its etiology could be pyogenic or granulomatous. Clinically an unspecific backache is the main symptom, which carries to an important delay in diagnosis. The treatment of election is conservative, but in the last years and in certain cases a surgical indication has came up as an option.
Methods: A descriptive retrospective study was performed between January 2001 and July 2010, including 24 patients with spondylodiscitis, who required surgical debridement and stabilization by anterior approach with a minimal follow-up of 6 months. We analyzed clinical and epidemiological characteristics of the studied population, the results of surgical treatment and the functional outcome of the patients by using Barthel’s Index.
Results: All surgically treated patients presented a thoracic or lumbar spondylodiscitis. Main compromised functions after disease and treatment were urination and deposition, as well as gait disturbances as consequence of an altered spine function on thoracic-lumbar region, cone and nerve roots.
Discussion: Once a neurological disturbance is present along the disease, surgical treatment is the best option for a patient. Surgical scrub, extensive debridement, and structural bone grafts should be early interposed and performed in order to achieve better functional outcome results.