Full-endoscopic debridement and drainage treating spine infection and psoas muscle abscess

Case report of minimally invasive spinal endoscopic debridement and pedicle screw fixation for severe spinal infection of the lumbosacral spine

Background

Surgical treatment of spinal infections, refractory to medical treatments, is increasing in incidence. Here, we present a unique case of discitis secondary to an iatrogenic cause, spinal steroid injection, that resulted in acute neurology, ventral phlegmon, and osteomyelitis requiring multiple surgical interventions for treatment.

Case Description

With the adoption of minimally invasive spinal surgery, the patient underwent full endoscopic debridement and decompression at our hospital. The endoscopic technique offers a unique avenue to the anatomically difficult ventral phlegmon for surgical excision, cultures, and pathogen identification. The endoscopic debridement was paired with percutaneous pedicle screw fixation to stabilize the spine from the worsening bone destruction.

Outcome

The patient recovered well postoperatively, with the resolution of her neurological symptoms and improved mobility.

Conclusions

Full endoscopic spinal debridement and decompression is a powerful tool to manage severe spinal discitis and preliminary studies encourage its adoption in surgical practices.

Post-Discectomy Infection: A Critical Review and Suggestion of a Management Algorithm

Postoperative discitis (POD) accounts for 20% to 30% of all cases of pyogenic spondylodiscitis, while POD may be mis-or-under-diagnosed, due to the vague related symptomatology and the non-specific imaging findings. Most studies report infection rate of less than 1%, which increases with the addition of non-instrumented fusion to 2.4% to 6.2%. It remains controversial whether POD is caused by an aseptic or infectious process. Positive cultures are presented only in 42-73% of patients with Staphylococcus species being the most common invading organisms, while Staphylococcus aureus is isolated in almost 50% of cases. The onset of POD symptoms usually occurs at 2-4 weeks after an apparently uneventful operation. Back pain and muscle spasms are usually refractory to bed rest and analgesics. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is the most sensitive and specific imaging diagnostic technique. Antimicrobial therapy depends on the results of tissue cultures, and along with bracing represents the mainstay of management. Surgical intervention is necessary in patients failing conservative treatment. For the majority of cases, extensive surgical debridement, antibiotic therapy, and orthosis immobilization are effective in eliminating the infection. According to this, we recommend an Algorithmic approach for the management of POD. Postoperative infections after spinal surgery pose a certain clinical challenge, and in most cases can be treated conservatively. Nevertheless, disability may be persistent, and surgery could be necessary. The purpose of this concise review is to describe the manifestation of post-discectomy infection, its pathogenesis and particularly a rational approach for its management.

A Comprehensive Review of Pyogenic Spondylitis Management for Neurosurgeons

Older populations have been increasing recently, resulting in an increase in cases of pyogenic spondylitis. Neurosurgeons who frequently treat the elderly are at a higher risk of encountering this condition. Therefore, this article provides a summary of the literature and our experience to help neurosurgeons effectively manage pyogenic osteomyelitis. It is important not to rule out pyogenic spondylosis when examining a patient with back pain, even in the absence of a fever. This is because the chronic type is common, easily overlooked, and early diagnosis and treatment are crucial. Empirical antibiotics should be avoided in cases where blood culture and biopsy are negative, to prevent microbial resistance and an increase in difficult-to-treat cases. Biopsies, such as computed tomography-guided percutaneous biopsy and full endoscopic debridement and drainage, should be attempted. Currently, 6 weeks of parenteral antibiotic therapy is the main treatment for pyogenic spondylitis. Surgical treatment is recommended if this method is ineffective. However, in the early stages, full endoscopic debridement and drainage and percutaneous pedicle screw fixation are optional.

Combined endoscopic and microsurgical approach for the drainage of a multisegmental thoracolumbar epidural abscess: illustrative case

BACKGROUND

Spinal epidural abscess is a rare but serious infectious disease that can rapidly develop into a life-threatening condition. Therefore, the appropriate treatment is indispensable. Although conservative treatment is justifiable in certain cases, surgical treatment needs to be considered as an alternative early on because of complications such as (progressive) neurological deficits or sepsis. However, traditional surgical techniques usually include destructive approaches up to (multilevel) laminectomies. Such excessive approaches do have biomechanical effects potentially affecting the long-term outcomes. Therefore, minimally invasive approaches have been described as alternative strategies, including endoscopic approaches.

OBSERVATIONS

The authors describe a surgical technique involving a combination of two minimally invasive approaches (endoscopic and microsurgical) to drain a multisegmental (thoracolumbar) abscess using the physical phenomenon of continuous pressure difference to minimize collateral tissue damage.

LESSONS

The combination of minimally invasive approaches, including the endoscopic technique, may be an alternative in draining selected epidural abscesses while achieving a similar amount of abscess removal and causing less collateral approach damage in comparison with more traditional techniques.

Full Endoscopic Treatment for a Fibrosis Complication after Psoas Abscess

BACKGROUND

Psoas abscess is a challenging disease that may sometimes lead to a devastating prognosis. Early diagnosis and treatment are mandatory for better results in their treatments and to avoid complications.

PURPOSE

There is no article regarding a fibrosis treatment of the psoas muscle with a psoas abscess that is treated with full endoscopic debridement (FED).

STUDY DESIGN

a case report and literature review.

RESULT

we successfully treated this case, who suffered from psoas fibrosis with a clinical and MRI diagnosis, with full endoscopic debridement.

CONCLUSIONS

FED is a viable alternative to open debridement for this rare complication of a psoas muscle abscess.

Percutaneous Transforaminal Full-Endoscopic Removal of Neurinoma of the Fifth Lumbar Nerve Root With Intraoperative Neuromonitoring: A Case Report

Background

Technical achievements and surgical techniques improvement contribute to the expansion of the endoscopic spine surgery possibilities. However, today there are few reports about the use of percutaneous endoscopy in spinal tumor surgery. A case of percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic removal of the lumbar spinal nerve tumor with intraoperative neuromonitoring is presented.

Case Description

A 59-year-old female was complaining of a left shin and foot pain, weakness, and paresthesia. Preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a tumor (neurinoma) at the left L5-S1 intervertebral foramen. Transforaminal endoscopic removal of an extramedullary tumor from an 8-mm skin incision with intraoperative neuromonitoring was performed. Postoperative MRI revealed the signs of total resection of the tumor.

Conclusion

The presented case confirms that percutaneous endoscopic removal of lumbar spine intraforaminal neurinomas can be safe and effective.

Salmonella spondylodiscitis and epidural abscess successfully treated with unilateral biportal endoscopic discectomy and debridement: a rare case report

Spinal epidural abscess (SEA) is a rare but severe infection with potentially devastating consequences. Epidural abscesses caused by Salmonella serogroup C2 are even rarer and tend to be more invasive with multidrug resistance. Early diagnosis, effective use of antibiotics and surgical intervention are the mainstay strategies for managing SEA, especially for more virulent and multidrug-resistant Salmonella infections. This case report presents a rare case of an elderly and fragile woman with Salmonella spondylodiscitis and an extensive epidural abscess, which were successfully treated with intravenous antibiotics and unilateral biportal endoscopic (UBE) debridement and drainage through four small surgical incisions. After surgery, her fever subsided, she regained consciousness and her low back pain dramatically improved. Follow-up magnetic resonance imaging showed complete resolution of the epidural abscess. At 6 months after surgery, the patient regained muscle strength, ambulated with a walker and had no recurrence of the infection. The UBE technique can effectively eradicate infection while minimizing surgery-related risks and complications. A multidisciplinary team is required to achieve a good outcome.

Single-stage posterior resection of the transversal process combined with an intervertebral foraminal approach for debridement, interbody fusion, internal fixation for the treatment of lumbar tuberculosis and psoas major abscess

PURPOSES

To investigate the feasibility and clinical efficacy of the treatment for lumbar tuberculosis with psoas major abscess with single-stage posterior resection of the transversal process combined with an intervertebral foraminal approach for debridement, interbody fusion, internal fixation.

METHODS

This retrospective study evaluated the clinical data of 24 patients (14 males and 10 females) with lumbar tuberculosis and psoas major abscess admitted to the Comprehensive Surgery from June 2016 to June 2019. All patients were treated with the single-stage posterior approach to remove the transverse process combined with the intervertebral foramina approach for debridement, interbody fusion, internal fixation. The quadruple anti-tuberculosis drug therapy was given both pre-operatively and post-operatively. Clinical symptoms and complications were investigated and recorded. The visual analogue scale (VAS), American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA), degree of lesion fusion C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were evaluated.

RESULTS

The average follow-up period was 16. 5 months (from 12 to 36 months). The average VAS score at three months post-operation was significantly declined than the pre-operative VAS score [(2.17 ± 0.87) points vs (5.46 ± 1.22) points, t =  - 11.534, P < 0.01)]. At the last follow-up, the neurological function of 20 patients recovered to grade E, whereas four patients were still in grade D. The ESR and CRP returned to normal levels in all patients. Bone fusion was achieved in nine cases at six months, 11 cases at nine months, and four cases at 12 months. The incisions of 23 patients had healed nicely without chronic sinus. Poor incision healing only happened in one case at the day 12 post-operation. The bone grafts among the lesions obtained bony fusion. Besides, there was no recurrence of tuberculosis, loosening or fracture of internal fixation during the follow-up.

CONCLUSION

Single-stage posterior resection of the transversal process combined with an intervertebral foramina approach for debridement, interbody fusion, internal fixation is probably an effective and safe approach of the treatment for lumbar tuberculosis combined with psoas major abscess, producing few complications. This technique provides an alternative method for the surgical treatment of lumbar tuberculosis combined with psoas major abscess.

Percutaneous Full-Endoscopic C2 Ganglionectomy for the Treatment of Intractable Occipital Neuralgia: Technical Note

BACKGROUND

The C-2 dorsal root ganglionectomy procedure can provide effective treatment for intractable occipital neuralgia (ON). However, the traditional microsurgery of C2 ganglionectomy needs a wide incision and significant paraspinous muscle dissection for adequate visualization. The indications of endoscopic spine surgery are ever expanding, with the development of endoscopic armamentaria and technological innovations.

OBJECTIVE

To validate the feasibility of the approach and describe several operative nuances based on the authors' experience. In this paper, the authors describe a patient with intractable ON who was successfully treated with a percutaneous full-endoscopic C2 ganglionectomy.

METHODS

We describe the case of an 83-yr-old female with a 2-yr history of left ON who did not respond to a series of treatments, including physical therapy, drug therapy, injection therapy, and radiofrequency therapy. After careful examination, we performed a percutaneous, full-endoscopic left C2 ganglionectomy.

RESULTS

The patient was successfully treated with a percutaneous full-endoscopic ganglionectomy. Afterwards, her intractable and constant pain was relieved. There was no cerebrospinal fluid leakage, incision infection, neck deformity, or other complications.

CONCLUSION

C2 ganglionectomy can be accomplished successfully using a full-endoscopic uniportal surgical technique under continuous irrigation, which has the advantages of excellent illumination and visualization, reduced surgery-related trauma, and reduced bleeding.