Experimental study on treatment of intervertebral space infection by anterior debridement and antibiotics

Objective: To study the curative effect of different therapies on intervertebral space infection in rabbits. Methods: The model rabbits with intervertebral space infection were stablished by injecting Staphylococcus aureus into the intervertebral space,and the infection was confirmed by radiograph,MRI,ESR,and serum level of CRP. Thirty-six model rabbits were randomly divided into surgical and antibiotic treatment group (SAT), antibiotic treatment group (AT) and non-treatment group (NT). The curative effects were compared among the three groups. Results: NT group:the temperature,ESR and level of serum CRP were abnormal and the clinical symptoms deteriorated; the fatality rate was high(66.7%) and cure rate low(16.7%). AT group:the temperature,ESR and level of serum CRP recovered slowly and the clinical symptoms were uncatabatic; the fatality rate was high (50.0%), disability rate high (16.7%) and cure rate low(33.3%). SAT group:the temperature,ESR and level of serum CRP recovered quickly and the clinical symptom improved obviously; the cure rate was high(91.7%) and fatality rate low(8.3%). The curative efficacy in SAT group and AT group was better than that in NT group(P < 0.01 and P < 0.05). Conclusions: The anterior debridement can radically eliminate the infection tissues,so the temperature,ESR,level of serum CRP and the clinical symptoms improve quickly after surgery.