Single Stage Decompression and Internal Fixation for Surgical Treatment of Active Spinal Infections

Object: The treatment of spinal infections includes anti¬biotic with surgical intervention in cases with neurological deficit and/or instability. The decision to place instrumentation into an infected spinal column remains controversial. The purpose of this study is to determine the efficacy of combining debridment, decompression and segmental internal fixation in a single-stage procedure for such patients.Methods: Eleven patients with spinal infection, 6 thoracic, 4 lumbar and one cervical were treated by single-stage operation for decompression and instrumentation. All patients showed no problem related to fusion and fixation with improvement of the clinical manifestations (Pain and/or neurological deficit) and eradication of the infection in a period ranged from six to eight months guided by erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein.Conclusion: Single-stage debridement and internal fixation with postoperative coverage antibiotics is an effective method of treatment for active spinal infections.