Pyogenic Infection of the Spine which Required Anterior Decompression and Spinal Fusion; Report of Three Cases

Three cases of pyogenic infection of the spine which required anterior decompression and spinal fusion were reported. Three cases were female with age of 69, 70 and 74 years. The affected level was first lumbar spine in two cases and lower lumbar spine in another one. Initial symptoms were low back pain and gait disturbance by power loss of lower limb.In case 1, suppurative material was taken by trephine biopsy of first lumbar spine and E. coli was detected. In case 2 and 3, histological diagnosis was chronic osteomyelitis.In all three cases, destruction of the spinal body was recognized and this yielded malalignment of the spine.Operative procedure should be performed for such cases with recurrence, persistent suppurative activity, spinal cord compression, abscess and also for differential diagnosis.In all three cases, satisfactory results were obtained by anterior decompression and spinal fusion.