Answer to the Letter to the Editor of Gui-Tao Li et al. concerning: 'A systematic review and meta-analysis of biological treatments targeting tumour necrosis factor α for sciatica' by Williams NH, Lewis R, Din NU, Matar HE, Fitzsimmons D, Phillips CJ, Sutton A, Burton K, Hendry M, Nafees S, Wilkinson C (2013) Eur Spine J; 22:1921-1935.

摘要

PELD was successful in obtaining a bacteriologic diagnosis, relieving the patient's symptoms, and assisting in eradication of lumbar infectious spondylitis. The indications of this minimally invasive procedure could be extended to treat patients suffering from spinal infections with paraspinal abscesses and postoperative recurrent infection. Patients with multilevel infection may have trivial benefits from PELD due to poor infection control and mechanical instability of the affected segments.