Anterior Cervical Corpectomy and Reconstruction With Fibular Autograft for Bacterial Spondylodiscitis: A Case Report and Literature Review

TL;DR

A 41-year-old man with severe cervical spine infection underwent successful surgery using a fibular autograft, leading to significant recovery.

Contribution

Demonstrates the effectiveness of fibular autograft in cervical spine reconstruction after infection.

Findings

The patient showed significant neurological improvement after surgery.

Fibular autograft provided stable reconstruction following corpectomy.

Antibiotic therapy alone was insufficient to prevent vertebral collapse.

Abstract

Bacterial spondylodiscitis of the cervical spine is an uncommon but potentially serious condition that may require surgical intervention in cases of progressive vertebral collapse or neurological deterioration. We report a 41-year-old man who presented with intermittent fever, neck pain, and quadriparesis and was diagnosed with C5-C7 spondylodiscitis complicated by epidural and prevertebral abscess caused by oxacillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus. Despite two months of appropriate antibiotic therapy, follow-up imaging demonstrated progressive collapse of the C6-C7 vertebral body. The patient subsequently underwent C5-C7 corpectomy and reconstruction using a fibular autograft with anterior plating, along with posterior fixation using C4 and C5 lateral mass screws and T1 and T2 pedicle screws. Postoperatively, the patient showed significant neurological improvement, including recovery of ambulation and fine hand function. This case highlights fibular autograft as a viable and dependable reconstruction option following cervical corpectomy for bacterial spondylodiscitis.

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