Minimally Invasive Surgery vs. Open Surgery for Infectious Spondylodiscitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Infectious spondylitis is estimated to affect 4-24 patients per million per year, with male:female ratio of 1.5:2.1. Contributing to 0.15%-5% of all osteomyelitis cases, until date, the treatment of infectious spondylitis is still very challenging in order to minimalize the mortality and morbidity of these patients [1,2].Surgical intervention is needed in patients unresponsive to antibiotic treatments, those with spinal instability, neurological deficit, soft tissue abscess involvement, and significant spinal destruction. In order to ensure infection eradication, open sur-