Microsurgical management of postoperative disc space infection.

We analysed seventeen patients with septic postoperative spondylodiscitis (POD) who were managed by early microsurgical removal of the infected necrotic tissue, application of a closed suction-irrigation system (for a mean of 6.7 days), and early mobilisation. The POD was diagnosed clinically by elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) or C-reactive protein (CRP) values and radiographically by computerised tomography scanning or magnetic resonance imaging.

Functional and economic outcome following microdiscectomy for lumbar disc herniation in 672 patients.

A retrospective assessment of 809 patients operated on in 1990-1998 was performed. A patient-based outcome questionnaire also was incorporated into the study. The outcome was graded according to the Functional Economic Rating scale.

Outcome after chronic sciatica as the only reason for lumbar microdiscectomy.

There are only a few long-term studies on microsurgical disc operations, and none concentrated on long-term follow-up of therapy-resistant sciatica. A total of 258 patients whose only neurologic symptoms were sciatica were included in this study. Patients were operated on between 1990 and 1997.

Neurological outcome following laminectomy in spinal metastases.

Study Design: Retrospective outcome measurement study.

Objectives: Patients suffering from malignant tumour disease and metastases to the spine develop a variety of clinical complaints including radicular symptoms and/or spinal cord compression syndromes. Palliative decompressive laminectomy with total or partial tumour resection is an acknowledged method of treatment, despite controversy.

Stereotactic radiosurgery for brain metastases from colorectal cancer.

Purpose: The development of brain metastases represents an ominous event for patients with colorectal cancer. We evaluated results following stereotactic radiosurgery (SR) for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer to identify efficacy of SR and prognostic factors for survival.

Methods: This is a retrospective study of 60 brain metastases from colorectal cancer in 35 consecutive patients who underwent SR from January 1993 to December 1996.