The Limitation of Endoscopic Surgery Using the Full Endoscopic Discectomy System for the Treatment of Destructive Stage Pyogenic Spondylodiscitis: A Case Series

Figure 4

A 71-year-old female was referred because she had severe low back pain after treatment at the Department of Internal Medicine due to urinary tract infection. After spinal endoscopic surgery, low back pain persisted and the patient found difficulty in getting out of the bed; therefore, anterior-posterior lumbar fusion was performed. After the operation, the low back pain improved. (a) Sagittal and axial T2-weighted MRI; an abscess that had formed an air fluid level is identified at the L2/L3 level. (b) Intraoperative view and fluoroscopic image; two portals are inserted on both sides of the intervertebral space, and debridement and irrigation were performed endoscopically. (c) Post-FED sagittal CT scan image showing progress of bone destruction. (d) Post-open surgery sagittal and coronal CT scan view; bone fusion at L2/L3 level was observed 3 months after the minimally invasive open surgery.

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