Percutaneous discectomy for the treatment of bacterial discitis.

METHODS. Percutaneous discectomy was successfully used to diagnose and treat bacterial discitis. CONCLUSIONS. This technique was successful in obtaining a bacteriologic diagnosis, relieving the patient's symptoms and assisting in the eradication of the infection. With percutaneous discectomy, there is lower morbidity and cost than with open treatment. Any comments on the overall effectiveness of this technique will need to be based on additional cases.