Abstract

One rare but significant complication of this intervention is discitis, an infection that occurs in the space between vertebrae and is estimated to affect approximately 1–2% of patients who have undergone spine surgery. The objective of this article is to evaluate the clinical evidence regarding the efficacy of intraoperative antibiotic irrigation in reducing the incidence of lumbar disc space infection. A study in Kirkuk City, Iraq, found that postoperative lumbar discitis was more common in 400 patients with low back pain, elevated ESR levels, and MRI indications. Patients were divided into two groups, one receiving antibiotic irrigation and the other not. Most were treated conservatively with bed rest, antibiotics, NSAIDs, and occasionally corticosteroids. The current outcomes demonstrated that patients within the age range of 31–40 years constituted the majority of the study population (42.5%), with males representing 53.5% and females accounting for 46.5%. Patients who underwent discectomy at the L4–L5 level exhibited the highest prevalence (42%), while those who underwent discectomy at the L1–L2 level demonstrated the lowest prevalence (2%). Lumbar disc space infection was observed in 5.5% of the first group and 10.5% of the second group. The results indicate that patients who underwent antibiotic irrigation (gentamycin) following discectomy exhibited enhanced surgical outcomes in comparison to patients who did not receive antibiotic irrigation.