Tuberculous spondylodiscitis after lumbar microdiscectomy

Abstract

Postoperative spondylodiscitis (PSD) and postoperative osteomyelitis (POM) are known complications of lumbar disc surgery. Many infectious agents play a role in its etiology and it is mostly bacterial. A 55-year male patient underwent lumbar microdiscectomy (LMD) for left L4-5 disc hernia. Lumbar magnetic resonance images of the patient in the postoperative eighth week showed an infection, thought to be due to tuberculosis (TB) in the operation site and adjacent vertebrae. The patient who was positive for the QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-GIT) test was diagnosed with TB-induced PSD. The patient received anti-TB treatment consisting of ethambutol, isoniazid, pyrazinamide, and rifampin. We report a very rare case of PSD due to TB infection after LMD. Clinical results and management of the patient was compared with other patients with similar characteristics in the literature.