CT Fluoroscopy-Guided Transsacral Intervertebral Drainage for Pyogenic Spondylodiscitis at the Lumbosacral Junction

Common Options and Overlooked Alternative for Drainage of Inaccessible Presacral Abscess: A Case Report

Purpose.

To demonstrate options and alternative for drainage of inaccessible presacral abscess by the example of a rare clinical case of pyogenic spondylodiscitis, transsacraly drained under a combination of two interventional techniques – CT-guided bone biopsy and abscess drainage.

Materials and methods.

A 55-year-old patient with history of recurrent paravertebral abscesses previously treated with antibiotic therapy was referred to our institution experiencing lower back pain and weakness in both lower extremities. Computed tomography revealed pyogenic spondylodiscitis along with left facet joint destruction and presacral abscess located in ventral sacral surface. Due to inaccessible abscess location, it was decided to perform CT-guided percutaneous transsacral abscess drainage. An 8G bone marrow biopsy needle was used to penetrate the sacrum and create a path for drainage catheter placement. Using the Seldinger technique 8 Fr drainage catheter was inserted into abscess cavity.

Results.

Neither early nor late procedure-related complications occurred. Sixteen days after drainage procedure, the catheter was withdrawn as patient’s condition improved and the outflow of pus had reduced considerably.

Conclusions.

Despite being rarely used, CT fluoroscopy-guided transsacral drainage approach is considered to be minimally invasive and in some cases the only viable option for drainage of pyogenic spondilodiscitis of the lumbosacral junction.

First experience of efficacy and radiation exposure in 320-detector row CT fluoroscopy-guided interventions

OBJECTIVE

We investigated the efficacy and exposure to radiation in 320-detector row computed tomography fluoroscopy-guided (CTF-guided) interventions.

METHODS

We analysed 231 320-detector row CTF-guided interventions (207 patients over 2 years and 6 months) in terms of technical success rates, clinical success rates, complications, scanner settings, overall radiation doses (dose-length product, mGy*cm), patient doses of peri-interventional CT series, and interventional CT (including CTF), as a retrospective cohort study. The relationships between patient radiation dose and interventional factors were assessed using multivariate analysis.

RESULTS

Overall technical success rate was 98.7% (228/231). The technical success rates of biopsies, drainages, and aspirations were 98.7% (154/156), 98.5% (66/67), and 100% (8/8), respectively. The clinical success rate of biopsies was 93.5% (146/156). All three major complications occurred in chest biopsies. The median total radiation dose was 522.4 (393.4-819.8) mGy*cm. Of the total radiation dose, 87% was applied during the pre- and post-interventional CT series. Post-interventional CT accounted for 24.4% of the total radiation dose. Only 11.4% of the dose was applied by CTF-guided intervention. Multilinear regression demonstrated that male sex, body mass index, drainage, intervention time, and helical scan as post-interventional CT were significantly associated with higher dose.

CONCLUSION

The 320-detector row CTF interventions achieved a high success rate. Dose reduction in post-interventional CT provides patient dose reduction without decreasing the technical success rates.

ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE

This is the first study on the relationship between various interventional outcomes and patient exposure to radiation in 320-detector row CTF-guided interventions, suggesting a new perspective on dose reduction.

Spondylodiscitis due to transmitted mycotic aortic aneurysm or infected grafts after endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR): A retrospective single-centre experience with short-term outcomes

PURPOSE

To report the challenging therapeutic approach and the clinical outcome of patients with pyogenic spondylodiscitis transmitted due to infected retroperitoneal regions of primary infected mycotic aortic aneurysms (MAAs) or secondary infected aortic stent grafts after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR).

METHODS

Between 2012 and 2019, all patients suffering from spondylodiscitis based on a transmitted infection after the EVAR procedure were retrospectively identified. Patient data were analysed regarding the time between primary and secondary EVAR infection and spondylodiscitis detection, potential source of infection, pathogens, antibiotic treatment, complications, recovery from infection, mortality, numeric rating scale (NRS), COBB angle and cage subsidence.

RESULTS

Fifteen patients with spondylodiscitis transmitted from primary or secondary infected aortic aneurysms after EVAR were included. The median follow-up time was 8 months (range 1-47). Surgery for spondylodiscitis was performed in 12 patients. In 9 patients, the infected graft was treated conservatively. MAAs were treated in 4 patients first with percutaneous aortic stent graft implantation followed by posterior surgery of the infected spinal region in a two-step procedure. Infection recovery was recorded in 11 patients during follow-up. The overall mortality rate was 27% (n = 4). The mean pain intensity improved from an NRS score of 8.4 (3.2-8.3) to 3.1 (1.3-6.7) at the last follow-up.

CONCLUSION

EVAR was used predominantly to treat primary infected MAAs. Secondary infected grafts were treated conservatively. Independent of vascular therapy, surgery of the spine led to recovery in most cases. Thus, surgery should be considered for the treatment of EVAR- and MAA-related spondylodiscitis.

Percutaneous bone biopsy using a flat-panel cone beam computed tomography virtual navigation system

Objectives

To assess the clinical role of flat-panel cone beam CT (CBCT) in performing percutaneous needle biopsy (PNB) of bone lesions. Flat-panel cone beam CT systems have been used as a guidance tool for performing percutaneous biopsy. Real-time fluoroscopy and virtual navigation systems help simplify needle path planning and shorten procedure times.

Methods

From March 2012 to March 2016, 80 patients with 80 bone lesions were retrospectively enrolled in the study in Zhengzhou city of China. Technical success, diagnostic accuracy, puncture performance, procedure time, complications, and effective radiation exposure were calculated.

Results

All biopsies were technically successful (100%). Sufficient tissue for histopathological analysis was obtained in 75 of 80 cases. The sensitivity of PNB of bone lesions was 95.5%, the specificity was 83.3%, and accuracy was 93.7%. The mean scoring of puncture performance was 3.9 ± 1.3. The mean total procedure time was 13.20 ± 4.4 min, resulting in a mean exposure dose of 11.3 ± 5.1 mSv. The complication rate was 8.7%.

Conclusion

Percutaneous bone biopsy using CBCT is a safe and effective method that simplifies needle path planning and shortens procedure times.