Zhang T, Lian X, Chen Y, Cai B, Xu J. Clinical Outcome of Postoperative Surgical Site Infection in Patients with Posterior Thoracolumbar and Lumbar Instrumentation.
J Hosp Infect 2022;
128:26-35. [PMID:
35788013 DOI:
10.1016/j.jhin.2022.06.014]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
Postoperative surgical site infection (SSI) is associated with greater rates of disability, especially in instrumented spinal surgeries. The management of implant-associated surgical site infections (SSI) is challenging. We analyzed the data from our hospital databases to assess the incidence and characteristics related to postoperative surgical site infection (SSI) after posterior thoracolumbar and lumbar instrumentation.
METHODS
Patient demographics, infection characteristics, details of treatment, and perioperative factors were reviewed (Jan 2010 to Dec 2020). The Oswestry disability index (ODI), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores for back and leg pain were analyzed preoperatively and postoperatively until last follow-up.
RESULTS
Of the 27,881 procedures collected from the databases, 521 were diagnosed with SSI (1.8%), and 191(36.7%) received at least one revision surgery for SSI. Infection rate was significantly higher in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis than those with scoliosis or kyphosis (P<0.01). Methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (43.4%) was the most commonly isolated pathogen. The rate of complication secondary to antibiotics treatment was 7.8%, and long-term antibiotic suppression was reported in 15.2% of patients. Instrumentation was retained in 175 patients (91.6%) and all SSIs were controlled without recurrence during the follow-up.
CONCLUSION
Analysis of 27,881 patients showed an average SSI rate of 1.8%. Patients with deep wound SSI can be successfully treated in most cases with retention of instrumentation. Early diagnosis, positive revision surgery with strict irrigation, thorough debridement, and a long-term course of antibiotics are critical for eradicating infection, retaining implants, decreasing morbidity, and achieving wound healing.
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