CASE REPORTS   

Chirurgia 2016 December;29(6):217-20

Copyright © 2016 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Minimally invasive surgery in the treatment of spinal infection: a case report and review of the literature

Luiz H. SANDON ^{1, 2}, Gun CHOI ², Eun S. PARK ²

¹ Department of Neurosurgery, São Paulo University Hospital, São Paulo, Brazil; ² Department of Spine Surgery, Pohang Wooridul Hospital, Gyeongbuk, South Korea

Postoperative infections in spinal cord surgeries are rare but increasing globally. Diagnosis can be difficult due to unspecific clinical signs and laboratory findings. We describe the case of a 73-year-old man who presented 6 months post-surgery with lumbar spine arthrodesis and signs suggestive of spondylodiscitis, confirmed with imaging techniques; considering the patient’s general clinical condition and comorbidities, we used a minimally invasive procedure to diagnose and treat the infection caused by a rare organism (Candida parapsilosis). We further discuss minimally invasive surgery as a new tool for treating classical spine pathologies and resolving complications and increasingly complex cases.