Spinal Infection (Spondylodiscitis)
By Dr. Kalyan Bommakanti, Neurosurgeon & Endoscopic Surgeon, Apollo Hospitals, Secunderabad.
Spondylodiscitis is an infection of a spinal disc. Endoscopy reaches it through a keyhole to sample, wash out and clear the infection — guiding the right antibiotic without open surgery.
Spondylodiscitis is an infection of a spinal disc and the bone next to it. It causes severe, unrelenting back pain — often worse at night and not relieved by rest — and may come with fever. Early diagnosis matters, because untreated infection can damage the spine.
Endoscopy is especially useful here: through the same keyhole route, the surgeon can reach the infected disc directly to take a sample for culture (so the right antibiotic is chosen) and to wash out and clear infected tissue — without a large open operation. The transforaminal route reaches the disc space through the natural opening in the spine, without retracting the nerve.
Treatment combines this targeted endoscopic clearance with a course of antibiotics guided by the culture result.
More on Conditions Treated
Frequently Asked Questions
What is spondylodiscitis?
It is an infection of a spinal disc and the adjacent vertebral bone, usually causing severe constant back pain – often worse at night – sometimes with fever.
How does endoscopy help with a spinal infection?
It reaches the infected disc through a keyhole to obtain a sample for culture and to wash out infected tissue, helping target antibiotics precisely without open surgery.
Will I still need antibiotics?
Yes – endoscopic clearance is combined with a course of antibiotics chosen according to the culture result.
Have a question or an MRI to review?
Send it to Dr. Kalyan’s team for an honest opinion. Consultations at Apollo Hospitals, Secunderabad.