Methods: All case records were assessed to extract information on the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA), Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and Japanese Orthopedic Association Back Pain Evaluation Questionnaire (JOABPEQ) scores before and after surgery. The SITE score, Pola classification, and BSDS were recorded. The receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and the area under the curve (AUC) were applied to estimate the predictive ability of the scoring systems. Patients’ satisfaction with surgery outcomes was evaluated using the VAS, ASIA, JOABPEQ, and Likert scale for quality-of-life evaluation. Results: In all 148 patients, case records were reviewed. The mean±standard deviation age of the patients was 54.6±14.7 years. Of these, 112 patients underwent surgery. The AUC scores were 0.86, 0.81, and 0.73 for the SITE score, BSDS, and Pola classification, respectively. In the comparison of the AUC of ROC curves, SITE score vs. BSDS showed a significantly greater AUC, 0.13 (Z =2.1, p =0.037); SITE score vs. Pola classification, 0.05 (Z =0.82, p =0.412); and Pola classification vs. BSDS, 0.08 (Z =1.22, p =0.219). The optimal cutoff score was 8.5 (sensitivity, 80.6%; specificity, 81.2%) for the SITE score and 9.5 (sensitivity, 52.8%; specificity, 83.0%) for the BSDS in the decision to surgery. VAS back pain and JOABPEQ subscales showed a significant difference when compared with preoperative scores. According to ASIA grading, none of the patients experienced neurological deterioration. Overall, patients’ satisfaction was observed. Conclusions The findings suggest that the SITE score is a useful measure and helps clinicians make clinically sound decisions in patients with spondylodiscitis.

Objective: To investigate the efficacy and safety of two different techniques for spinal ligamentotaxis. Spine ligamentotaxis reduces the number of retropulsed bone fragments in the fractured vertebrae. Two different ligamentotaxis techniques require clinical evaluation. Methods: This was a randomized clinical trial. The case group was defined as one pedicular screw insertion into a fractured vertebra, and the control group as a no-pedicular screw in the index vertebra. Spine biomechanical values were defined as primary outcomes and complications as secondary outcomes. Results: A total of 105 patients were enrolled; 23 were excluded for multiple reasons, and the remaining were randomly allocated into the case (n=40) and control (n=42) groups. The patients were followed up and analyzed (n=56). The postoperative mid-sagittal diameter of the vertebral canal (MSD), kyphotic deformity correction, and restoration of the anterior height of the fractured vertebrae showed equal results in both groups. Postoperative retropulsion percentage and pain were significantly lower in the case group than in the control group (p=0.003 and p=0.004, respectively). There were no group preferences for early or long-term postoperative complications. Conclusions Regarding clinical and imaging properties, inserting one extra pedicular screw in a fractured vertebra during ligamentotaxis results in better retropulsion reduction and lower postoperative pain.