Comparison of Disc Degeneration between Pyogenic Spondylitis and Noninfected Lumbar Spondylosis: A Multicenter Retrospective Study with Propensity Score Matching.

Introduction: Disc degeneration is a risk factor of pyogenic spondylitis. However, its degree in patients with pyogenic spondylitis is unknown. This study aimed to determine differences in disc degeneration between patients with pyogenic spondylitis and those with noninfectious lumbar spondylosis.

Unique characteristics of bone union at the infected vertebrae after minimally invasive posterior fixation without bone grafting in thoracolumbar pyogenic spondylitis: a retrospective multicenter cohort study.

Background: The current study aimed to evaluate the bone union rate between infected vertebrae after minimally invasive posterior fixation without bone grafting in thoracolumbar pyogenic spondylitis.

Methods: This retrospective multicenter cohort study evaluated 75 patients of posterior fixation for thoracolumbar pyogenic spondylitis that have been recorded at six relevant institutions from January 2016 to December 2022. Data on age, sex, location of infected vertebrae, number of infected disks, comorbidity, Pola classification, number of vertebrae fixed according to surgery, implant failure requiring revision surgery, and distance according to the type of infected vertebrae after surgery were evaluated.

Impact of causative organism identification on clinical outcomes after minimally invasive posterior fixation for thoracolumbar pyogenic spondylitis: multicenter retrospective cohort study.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the difference in treatment duration and unplanned additional surgeries between patients with unidentified causative organisms on empiric antibiotics and those with identified organisms on selective antibiotics in treating thoracolumbar pyogenic spondylitis with minimally invasive posterior fixation.

Methods: This multicenter retrospective cohort study included patients with thoracolumbar pyogenic spondylitis refractory to conservative treatment who underwent minimally invasive posterior fixation. Patients were divided into the identified (known causative organism) and unidentified groups (unknown causative organism).

Pedicle screw insertion into infected vertebrae reduces operative time and range of fixation in minimally invasive posterior fixation for thoracolumbar pyogenic spondylitis: a multicenter retrospective cohort study.

Background: Minimally invasive posterior fixation surgery for pyogenic spondylitis is known to reduce invasiveness and complication rates; however, the outcomes of concomitant insertion of pedicle screws (PS) into the infected vertebrae via the posterior approach are undetermined. This study aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of PS insertion into infected vertebrae in minimally invasive posterior fixation for thoracolumbar pyogenic spondylitis.

Methods: This multicenter retrospective cohort study included 70 patients undergoing minimally invasive posterior fixation for thoracolumbar pyogenic spondylitis across nine institutions.