Abstract Osteomyelitis and discitis are rare conditions that predominantly affect immunocompromised patients. Surgical intervention is generally reserved for patients who do not respond to medical therapy or who present with spinal instability, extensive tissue destruction or abscess formation. Carbon fiber implants constitute a notable advancement in the management of these conditions, providing high biocompatibility, radiolucency that facilitates postoperative imaging, a favorable strength-to-weight ratio, enhanced bone healing, reduced complication rates, and a modulus of elasticity comparable to cortical bone. We report the case of a 62-year-old Caucasian male with insulin-dependent diabetes and neuropathy, diagnosed with discitis at C4–5, C5–6, L3–4, and L4-L5, as well as an anterior epidural phlegmon resulting in central canal narrowing. The patient underwent anterior cervical discectomy, spinal cord decompression, evacuation of the epidural abscess, placement of interbody carbon fiber cages at C4–5 and C5–6, anterior plate and screw fixation from C4 to C6, and subsequent surgery for L2-S1. This case report evaluates the application of biocompatible carbon fiber implants in the treatment of osteomyelitis and discitis, highlighting their potential advantages for clinical practice.
Aftab et al. (Fri,) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: