Minimally invasive spine surgery in spinal infections.

INTRODUCTION: Although spinal infections have always been present recently their incidence has increased, in partly fostered by the advances in medicine (i.e. compromised immunity, chronic diseases, increasingly complex spinal procedures, etc.) and increased life expectancy.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: Using PubMed for this systematic review, the main spine infections types will be addressed focusing in the minimally invasive surgical techniques that can be used in their treatment.

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: Spontaneous and iatrogenic pyogenic and non-pyogenic spine infections can be treated in many different ways depending on their extension and location as well as on their causative microorganisms. The indications of percutaneous image-guided, endoscopic and microsurgical treatment techniques will be updated.

CONCLUSIONS: In spine infections minimally invasive surgical techniques show a great potential as to be safe, effective, with low surgical morbidity and fast patients' recovery.