Purpose Pyogenic infections of the spine are relatively rare with an incidence between 1:100,000 and 1:250,000 per year, but the incidence is increasing due to increases in average lifeexpectancy, risk factors, and medical comorbidities. The mean time in hospital varies from 30 to 57 days and the hospital mortality is reported to be 2-17%. This article presents the relevant literature and our experience of conservative and surgical treatment of pyogenic spondylodiscitis. Method We have performed a review of the relevant literature and report the results of our own research in the diagnosis and treatment of pyogenic spondylodiscitis. We present a sequential algorithm for identification of the pathogen with blood cultures, CT-guided biopsies and intraoperative tissue samples. Basic treatment principles and indications for surgery and our surgical strategies are discussed. Results Recent efforts have been directed toward early mobilisation of patients using primary stable surgical techniques that lead to a further reduction of the mortality. Currently our hospital mortality in patients with spondylodiscitis is around 2%. With modern surgical and antibiotic treatment, a relapse of spondylodiscitis is unlikely to occur. In literature the relapse rate of 0-7% has been recorded.

Powerlifting is a discipline of competitive weightlifting. To date, no investigations have focused on pain encountered during routine training. The aim of the study was to identify such pain, assign it to particular exercises and assess the data regarding injuries as well as the influence of intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Data of 245 competitive and elite powerlifters was collected by questionnaire. Information regarding current workout routines and retrospective injury data was collected. Study subjects were selected from 97 incorporated powerlifting clubs. A percentage of 43.3% of powerlifters complained of problems during routine workouts. Injury rate was calculated as 0.3 injuries per lifter per year (1 000 h of training=1 injury). There was no evidence that intrinsic or extrinsic factors affected this rate. Most commonly injured body regions were the shoulder, lower back and the knee. The use of weight belts increased the injury rate of the lumbar spine. Rate of injury to the upper extremities was significantly increased based on age >40 years (shoulder/p=0.003, elbow/p=0.003, hand+wrist/p=0.024) and female gender (hand+wrist/p=0.045). The daily workout of a large proportion of powerlifters is affected by disorders which do not require an interruption of training. The injury rate is low compared to other sports.

Neurogenic intermittent claudication, caused by lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS), usually occurs after the age of 50 and is one of the most common degenerative spinal diseases in the elderly. Among patients over the age of 65 with LSS, open decompression is the most frequently performed spinal operation. The recently introduced interspinous spacers are a new alternative under discussion. In this retrospective study, we reviewed medical records and radiographs of patients with LSS and NIC treated from June 2003 to June 2007. All included patients (n = 129) were treated with interspinous implants (X Stop Wallis, or Diam). Evaluations of pain, using a visual analog scale (VAS), and radiographic signs, using two-plane X-rays of the lumbar spine, were performed preoperatively (preop), postoperatively (postop) and after discharge (FU 2-3). Gender ratio (m:w) was 1.1:1. Mean age of the patients was 60.8 +/- 16.3 years. Foraminal height, foraminal width, foraminal cross-sectional area, intervertebral angle, as well as anterior and posterior disc height changed significantly (P < 0.0001) after implantation of the interspinous device. Postoperatively, symptom relief (VAS) was significant (P < 0.0001). The X Stop implant improved (in some cases significantly) the radiographic parameters of foraminal height, width, and cross-sectional area, more than the Diam and Wallis implants; however, there was no significant difference among the three regarding symptom relief. FU 1 was on average 202.3 +/- 231.9 and FU 2 527.2 +/- 377.0 days postoperatively. During FU, the radiological improvements seemed to revert toward initial values. Pain (VAS) did not increase despite this "loss of correction." There was no correlation between age and symptom improvement. There was only very weak correlation between the magnitude of radiographic improvement and the extent of pain relief (VAS). The interspinous implant did not worsen low-grade spondylolisthesis. Provided there is a strict indication and fusion is not required, implantation of an interspinous spacer is a good alternative to treat LSS. The interspinous implant offers significant, longlasting symptom control, even if initially significant radiological changes seem to revert toward the initial values ("loss of correction").