Table 3 Sites of spinal infections, stages of surgical treatment of the spine and bacteriology of tissue samples from the spine

1

Intraspinal abscess L3-S3, lumbar para-vertebral abscesses, abscesses psoas musle left side

Decompression and abscess evacuation L4-S1, open abscess drainage paravertebral lumbar, gluteal muscle and psoas musle left side

1

Staph. aureus

2

Spondylodiscitis C5/6 with epidural abscess, thoracolumbar abscesses paravertebral with epidural abscess

Tissue debridement Th10-S1 paravertebral, intraspinal abscess evacuation and decompression L3/4, debridement and fusion C5/6

2

negative

3

Spondylodiscitis L3/4 with epidural abscess, abscesses both psoas muscles

Posterior instrumentation L2-L5, decompression and debridement L3/4 and fusion, abscess evacuation psoas muscle

1

negative

4

Spondylodiscitis C4-C6

Corporectomy C5, bone grafting, plate fixation C4-C6

1

Staph. aureus

5

Spondylodiscitis L1/2

Posterior stabilization Th12-L3, decompression L1/2, debridement disc space L1/2 and fusion

1

E. coli

6

Spondylodiscitis C4/5 with epidural abscess, spondylodiscitis L2-L5 with epidural abscess, abscesses psoas muscles

Decompression, abscess evacuation, debridement disc space C4/5 and ventral spondylodesis C4/5, posterior stabilization Th12-L5, decompression L1-L4 and disc space debridement with fusion, abscess evacuation

1 (and CT-guided drainage abscesses psoas muscles)

Staph. aureus

7

Spondylodiscitis C5 to C7 with prevertebral and epidural abscess, spondylodiscitis Th12/L1, absesses in lumbar muscles

Decompression, abscess evacuation, debridement disc space C5 to C7 and ventral spondylodesis C5 to C7 and posterior lumbar stabilization Th11 to L2 with fusion Th12/ L1, tissue debridement Th12-L5 paravertebral

1

negative