Incidence of Discitis Among Patients Undergoing Surgery for Lumbosacral Prolapsed Intervertebral Disc at the Neurosurgery Department of Bolan Medical Teaching Hospital in Quetta

Abstract

Background: Lumbar intervertebral disc prolapse is a principal cause of nerve root pain and a leading indication for lumbar spine surgery, yet postoperative discitis remains an uncommon but clinically significant complication, with limited regional data available to guide local practice. Objective: This study aimed to determine the incidence of postoperative discitis among patients undergoing surgery for lumbosacral prolapsed intervertebral discs at the Department of Neurosurgery, Bolan Medical Teaching Hospital, Quetta, and to analyze its association with demographic and clinical variables. Methods: A descriptive observational case series was conducted, enrolling 241 adult patients (n = 241) aged 18–60 years who underwent lumbosacral discectomy from January to December 2021. Inclusion criteria encompassed all patients receiving surgery for prolapsed intervertebral disc with radiculopathy; exclusions were prior spinal infections, vertebral tuberculosis, malignancy, immunosuppression, and traumatic spinal injuries. Data were prospectively collected using structured forms, and discitis was diagnosed via clinical, laboratory, and MRI findings. Ethical approval was obtained from the institutional review board in accordance with the Helsinki Declaration. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 27.0, with frequencies, percentages, and chi-square tests applied to categorical data. Results: The mean patient age was 36.0 ± 13.77 years, with males comprising 62% of the cohort. The incidence of postoperative discitis was 2% (5/241), with no statistically significant associations identified with age, gender, or level of disc involvement (all p > 0.05). Localized tenderness was present in all discitis cases. Conclusion: The incidence of postoperative discitis following surgery for lumbosacral prolapsed intervertebral disc in this tertiary care center was low, reinforcing the value of stringent infection control and vigilant postoperative monitoring to ensure optimal patient outcomes. These findings provide region-specific evidence to guide clinical practice and future research in spinal surgery.