Percutaneous Endoscopic Debridement and Drainage as a First-Line Diagnosis and Management Intervention for Spondylodiscitis: A Novel Treatment Algorithm.

Abstract

Background and objectives: Spondylodiscitis (SD) is an infection of the intervertebral disk. In the nonseptic, MRI-positive patient without focal deficits, current guidelines recommend computed tomography-guided biopsy (CTGB) for pathogen identification. Yet, pathogen positivity from CTGB is low (37%). Percutaneous endoscopic debridement and drainage (PEDD) may improve pathogen identification and reduce pain. We aimed to evaluate the utility of PEDD as the first-line intervention for the diagnosis and management of SD.

Methods: Demographic characteristics, perioperative outcomes, intraoperative data, and microbiological data were collected through retrospective chart review from 9 consecutive adult patients with suspected SD managed with PEDD between 2021 and 2024. Patients were followed postoperatively until no longer seen in clinic. Paired t -tests were used to compare Visual Analog Pain Scale and morphine milligram equivalents change after intervention.

Results: The mean age was 56.4 years (SD: 10.0) with 7 male patients (77.8%). The mean follow-up was 7.1 months (SD: 9.6). On presentation, back pain was reported in 100% and lower extremity weakness and paresthesia in 33.3%; 77.8% of patients were treated with antibiotics preoperatively. The mean operative duration was 87.7 minutes (SD: 21.2). The mean estimated blood loss was 16.9 mL (SD: 20.7). The mean length of stay was 9.6 days (SD: 9.9). There were no intraoperative or postoperative complications associated with PEDD. Successful pathogen identification was achieved in 88.9%. The mean time to pathogen identification was 5.5 days (SD: 5.2). All patients had postoperative pain relief. There was a significant reduction in Visual Analog Pain Score postoperatively from 9.2 to 3.2 ( P < .001). This pain reduction was also associated with a significant reduction in morphine milligram equivalents from 32.7 to 29.5 ( P < .001).

Conclusion: We demonstrate that PEDD is a safe and effective procedure for the management of SD. PEDD may improve pathogen identification compared with CTGB while simultaneously reducing pain and opioid requirements. These data suggest that PEDD may be considered as a first-line intervention for SD. Further prospective studies are required to inform guidelines.