Retroperitoneoscopic drainage of complicated psoas abscesses in patients with tuberculous lumbar spondylitis

• Published in: European spine journal 2012-03, Vol.21 (3), p.470-473
• Main Authors: Büyükbebeci, Orhan, Seçkiner, İlker, Karslı, Burçin, Karakurum, Günhan, Başkonuş, İlyas, Bilge, Onur, Kacira, Burkay Kutluhan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abscesses; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Anesthesia; Drainage; Endoscopy - instrumentation; Endoscopy - methods; Female; Hospitals; Humans; Invasiveness; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Neurosurgery; Original; Original Article; Orthopedics; Polymerase chain reaction; Psoas Abscess - microbiology; Psoas Abscess - pathology; Psoas Abscess - surgery; Radiation; Remission; Retrospective Studies; Spine (lumbar); Spondylitis; Spondylitis - complications; Spondylitis - microbiology; Spondylitis - pathology; Suction - instrumentation; Suction - methods; Surgical Orthopedics; Tuberculosis; Tuberculosis, Spinal - complications; Tuberculosis, Spinal - pathology; Vertebrae; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0940-6719; 1432-0932
• DOI: 10.1007/s00586-011-2049-2

Purpose Nowadays, endoscopic techniques are widely used in surgical procedures. Retroperitoneoscopy has been an extremely valuable tool for a wide variety of urologic disorders, whereas, it has limited use in orthopedic procedures. Methods We performed retroperitoneoscopic drainage (in combination with medical treatment) of complicated psoas abscess on 12 patients with tuberculous spondylitis. All the procedures were done under general anesthesia and in the lateral decubitus position. Psoas abscess was evacuated during procedure, and postoperatively, drainage was continued through a large silastic tube. The definitive diagnosis and the treatment were made based on the results of culture-antibiogram and PCR testing. Results Complete clinical and radiologic remission was observed in all patients in 3–6 months. The complication was not observed in any case postoperatively. Conclusions Retroperitoneoscopic drainage of psoas abscesses gains advantages in terms of rapid recovery, minimal invasiveness, absence of radiation, and shorter hospital stay. This procedure can be used not only for cold abscesses but also for other pathologies of lumbar vertebral area.