Intervertebral space infections that do not respond to conservative treatment or that present with nerve root irritation or localized abscesses require surgical incision and treatment; if paraplegia is present, surgical removal of the lesion is also required for treatment.
An intervertebral space infection is a type of pyogenic spondylitis caused by an infection with a purulent bacterium such as Staphylococcus aureus. It is usually treated with antibiotics to fight the infection.
If the symptoms of nerve root irritation are obvious and intolerable to the patient, or if an abscess develops, incision and drainage or evacuation of the pus is required; if paralysis has occurred, indicating severe or damaged nerve root compression, laminectomy and decompression or lesion removal should be performed to relieve the symptoms of compression.
Infections in the intervertebral space should be treated as soon as possible, so as to avoid the expansion of the lesion or damage to the nerve root and aggravation of the condition.