CORset Versus OstéoSynthese in Adult Pyogenic Spondylodiscitis (COROSIVE)

Comparison of Thoracolumbar Back Pain After Brace Treatment Versus Percutaneous Instrumentation in Adult Pyogenic Spondylodiscitis Combined With Antibiotic Treatment

Pyogenic spondylitis in adults is usually treated by antibiotics according to bacteria evidenced in a diagnostic intervertebral disc puncture. Brace treatment is associated in patients presenting back pain and a risk for vertebral body collapse due to infection with subsequent kyphotic deformity of the thoracolumbar spine. Percutaneous minimally invasive posterior spinal instrumentation has evolved over the last decade and indications in infections arouse over the last years. This procedure is interesting as it is performed through small skin incisions only. It avoids paravertebral muscle dissection and thus limits intraoperative bleeding and access morbidity. Recent retrospective data suggests that this internal fixation represents a theoretical advantage over brace treatment by lowering back pain and increasing patient's quality of life in the short run, up to 3 months, but no randomized study was published. The patient's autonomy, including walking ability and daily activities, might improve more rapidly after a percutaneous procedure. Additionally, the sagittal alignment of the thoracolumbar spine could be better maintained by internal fixation, which might prevent progression into kyphosis and improve long-term outcome. The hypothesis is the superiority of percutaneous minimally invasive instrumentation on brace treatment in term of quality of life, back pain and quality of osseous healing.

Safety and efficacy of percutaneous for the indication of pyogenic spondylitis has been demonstrated retrospectively on small cohort studies, which is in line with our clinical experience. Although this therapeutic concept seems applicable to patients with spondylitis, the theoretical clinical benefit of minimally invasive surgery remains hypothetic and unclear compared to brace treatment, which might still be regarded as the gold standard.

Spondylodiscitis, spinal infection, back pain, quality of life, fusion, minimal invasive surgery, brace treatment

A prospective selection of patients with pyogenic spondylitis fulfilling above mentioned inclusion criteria is performed with subsequent randomization into treatment group 1 versus treatment group 2 after informed consent. Group1 are patients treated by minimally invasive surgery and group 2 are patients treated by thoracolumbar brace. Radiologic deformity assessment is performed on lateral thoracolumbar radiographs in standing position. A modified sagittal index measuring the angulation between cranial endplate of cranial vertebra and caudal endplate of the caudal vertebra as this parameter is normalized to 0°. Assessment of osteolysis at vertebral bodies on CT expressed as a ratio of vertebral body height in the mid-sagittal plane in comparison to non-infected vertebral bodies adjacent to the index level. Assessment of complete fusion, partial fusion, pseudarthrosis is performed on CT at 1-year FU. Type and length of antibiotic treatment

Patients with spondylodiscitis are operated by percutaneous instrumentation and receive an antibiotic treatment according to the bacterium evidenced in the initial diagnostic intervertebral disc puncture (6 weeks to 3 months according to CRP course)

Patients with spondylodiscitis are wearing a thoracolumbar brace for 3 months and receive an antibiotic treatment according to the bacterium evidenced in the initial diagnostic intervertebral disc puncture (6 weeks to 3 months according to CRP course)

The spine is stabilized cranially and caudally of the level of spondylodiscitis. The percutaneous instrumentation consists of a rod and pedicle screw construct. The vertebrae are instrumented through minimal skin incisions using a fluoroscopic guidance or a spinal navigation system based on 3D imaging.

Brace treatment is associated in patients presenting back pain and a risk for vertebral body collapse due to infection with subsequent kyphotic deformity of the thoracolumbar spine

VAS score from 0 to 10 filled out by patients for clinical evaluation of primary outcome measure (pain)

VAS score from 0 to 10 filled out by patients for clinical evaluation of primary outcome measure (pain)

VAS score from 0 to 10 filled out by patients for clinical evaluation of primary outcome measure (pain)

VAS score from 0 to 10 filled out by patients for clinical evaluation of primary outcome measure (pain)

VAS score from 0 to 10 filled out by patients for clinical evaluation of primary outcome measure (pain)

VAS score from 0 to 10 filled out by patients for clinical evaluation of primary outcome measure (pain)

VAS score from 0 to 10 filled out by patients for clinical evaluation of primary outcome measure (pain)

- Comparison of influence of both treatment on kyphotic deformity - Comparison of fusion rates versus pseudarthrosis for both treatments

Inclusion criteria: adult patients presenting acute pyogenic spondylitis of the thoracolumbar spine back pain at a minimum of 4 out of 10 on VAS Diagnostic MRI and disc puncture + microbiological analysis required for antibiotic treatment and/or blood culture Vertebral body involvement (osteolysis) < 50% of VB height documented on CT Exclusion criteria: postoperative pyogenic spondylitis or infection after spinal instrumentation spinal tuberculosis and mycosis contra-indications for surgery or general anaesthesia general septic conditions acute endocarditis documented by sonography patients presenting another major abcess or an epidural abscess Absence of vertebral body involvement (osteolysis) on CT or minor VB involvement less than 10% of VB height (surgery not indicated) Major destruction of vertebral body (>50%) on CT (surgery mandatory) Patients with concomitant bacterial endocarditis