| Spinal infections
Spinal infections can adversely affect
the disc spaces or the bones of the spine. Examples of types of spinal
infections that may require surgery include:
-
Discitis -- an uncommon infection of
intervertebral disc space, which is the space between the vertebrae, often
there is secondary involvement of cartilage and vertebral bone
-
Vertebral Osteomyelitis -- infection of
the vertebral bones of the spine, weakens the bone which then decreases
the disk space, destroys vertebral endplates and can exert pressure on
the spinal cord
-
Spinal Epidural Abscess -- infection
of the space between discs and duramater, can compress spinal cord and
nerves
Sometimes operations for spinal infections
are required to make a diagnosis, localize, and identify the germ, and
then initiate appropriate antibiotic therapy. This involves the participation
often times of an infection disease specialist, and a spinal-trained
orthopedic surgeon to help perform the fusion.
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