SPINAL INFECTION
Infection can occur in different regions in the spine. Most often we see the infection in the intervertebral space and vertebral bodies. (it is the space which beholds the vertebral disc between two adjacent vertebral body. If the infection spreads to the spinal cord, it can cause meningitis, and if it compresses the spinal cord, it can cause paralysis. The most common causes of disc infection:
Pyogenic Infections: Usually infection that emerges in a part of the and spreads to the spine via local contamination, blood circulation, or spreading around the local soft tissues. It is most commonly seen after urinary tract infection. Another is the infection that passes through the milk or dairy products of animals known as brucellosis which is popularly known as undulant fever, Malta fever, and Mediterranean fever. It likes to settle in the space of the intervertebral discs, spreads towards the spine.
Tuberculosis (Mal de Pott) infection: Still a serious problem for our country and the rest of the world. Tuberculosis settles on vertebral discs and spine. There is a higher risk of kyphotic spinal deformity.
Latrogenic Infection: It is the infection seen after spinal surgery. These can be in two ways. It can occur in an early period, ie within a few days following the surgery, and another is the infection that occurs several months after the surgery, which known as late-onset surgical infection.
Open spinal fractures are another cause of infection.
The basic principle in the treatment of spinal infection is to first understand the cause and source of the infection and then treat it. For this purpose, examinations are performed, if necessary, a biopsy is taken for microbiologic and pathologic diagnosis or choosing the direct surgery for diagnosing and treating the condition at the same time. Antibiotherapy is given according to the sample. The anti biotherapy may be extended to 6-8 weeks. The infected bone and disc are removed during surgery and if necessary, an instrument (platinum) is used to achieve the spinal stability.