Bacteria: back pain, leg pain and Modic sign —a surgical multicentre comparative study

ConclusionsCutibacterium acnes found in discs and vertebrae during surgery for disc herniation in adults with degenerated discs may be caused by contamination, as findings in this group were similar to findings in a control group of young patients with scoliosis and non-degenerated discs. Furthermore, such findings were almost always combined with bacterial findings on the skin and/or in the wound. There was no association between preoperative Modic changes and bacterial findings. Antibiotic treatment of lumbar disc herniation with sciatica and/or low back pain, without signs of clinical discitis/spondylitis, should be seriously questioned.Graphic abstractThese slides can be retrieved under Electronic Supplementary Material.
Source: European Spine Journal - Category: Orthopaedics Source Type: research