Adjacent intervertebral space infection after lumbar fusion

Abstract

Background: Surgical site infection is a catastrophic complication after spinal surgery, which seriously affects the progress of rehabilitation and clinical outcome. Currently the clinical reports on spinal surgical site infections are mostly confined to the surgical segment itself and there are few reports on adjacent segment infections after spinal surgery.

Study design: Case report.

Objective: To report a clinical case with adjacent level infection after spinal fusion.

Methods: We report the case of a 68-year-old woman who underwent posterior lumbar 4‑5 laminectomy, posterolateral fusion and internal fixation. The patient showed signs of surgical site infection, such as surgical site pain, high fever and increase of the inflammatory index 1 week after the operation. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirmed the diagnosis of adjacent intervertebral disc infection. The patient received early combined, high-dose anti-infection treatment instead of debridement.

Results: After the conservative treatment, the infection was controlled and the patient subsequently enjoyed a normal daily life.

Conclusion: Adjacent level infections can occur after spinal surgery. Early diagnosis and anti-infection treatment played an important role in the treatment of this kind of complication.

Keywords: Case report; Conservative treatment; Low back pain; Magnetic resonance imaging; Surgical wound infection.