Treatment of refractory thoracolumbar spine infection by thirteen times of vacuum sealing drainage: A case report.

Background: A case study of multiple distinct levels of skipped thoracolumbar spine infection was reported in which 13 successful vacuum sealing drainage (VSD) surgeries were treated.

Case summary: The patient underwent a total of 13 procedures within our medical facility, including five performed under local anesthesia and eight performed under general anesthesia. The source of the ailment was ultimately identified as Enterobacter cloacae. After the last procedure, the patient's symptoms were alleviated, and the recovery process was satisfactory. Three months post-operation, the Japanese Orthopaedic Association scores had improved to 100%. Imageological examination revealed a satisfactory position of internal fixation, and the abnormal signals in the vertebral body and intervertebral space had been eliminated when compared to the pre-operative results.

Conclusion: The study demonstrates that the extreme lateral approach debridement combined with multiple VSD operations is a secure and successful method of treatment for recurrent spinal infection, providing an alternative to traditional surgery.