2025 Volume 16 Issue 5 Pages 768-773
Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate the Hounsfield unit (HU) of vertebrae in patients with lumbar pyogenic spondylitis.
Methods: Sixty-five vertebrae of 32 patients with lumbar pyogenic spondylitis were included in this study. The HUs of vertebral bodies, pedicles, and pedicle screw sites (PSS) were measured using computed tomography, and the values were compared between infected vertebrae (Group I) and non-infected vertebrae (Group NI). Additionally, the HUs of the infected vertebrae were analyzed according to the stages of Griffiths classification. Patients who required surgical intervention were examined for the incidence of pedicle screw (PS) loosening within 6 months after surgery.
Results: The HU was significantly higher in Group I across all sites (p < 0.001). Furthermore, the HU of infected vertebrae was significantly higher in the vertebral bodies and PSS as the Griffiths classification stage progressed (p < 0.001). In 6 patients who underwent surgical treatment, 12 PSs were inserted into the infected vertebrae. PS loosening occurred in 2 patients and involved 4 vertebrae, but no other adverse events occurred.
Conclusions: Insertion of PSs in the infected vertebrae may be an effective surgical option to shorten the range of fixation.
