[Discitis after lumbar diskectomy].

The aim of this study was to examine the frequency and clinical course for early diagnosis (earlier signs-index of suspicion, later signs) and different clinical presentation of disctitis at deep infection wound (DIW) and superficially infection wound (SIW). The medical histories of adult patients, which were all hospitalized after lumbar discectomy at the Department of Rehabilitation during a 5-year period (1986-1990) was retrospectively analysed. The incidence of discitis by 231 patients was 0.43%. DIW 0.43%, and SIW 0.86% is incidence by 231 patients. Infection group with seven patients (three discitis, two DIW, two SIW) and control seria of 52 patients (to be clinically satisfactory) was studied in detail, to the clinical presentation. The most consistent clinical signs at previous diagnosis all patients with discitis, beside 1) delayed strong back pain and 2) erythrocite sedimentation rate (ESR) highly elevated (near 50) in week 2, is 3) increasing course of ESR from week 2 to 4, postoperatively. On the contrary, all patients with DIW and SIW had an decreasing course of ESR from week 2 to 4, postoperatively. ESR of all patients with DIW > 50 < SIW on week 2 postoperatively, which is important for their differentiation along with local signs of the wound. The later signs for diagnosis and differentiation of all patients with discitis from DIW and SIW are typical radiographic findings on discitis, and duration of ESR normalization, beside other signs here analyzed.