10. The fate of patients with early postoperative surgical site infections following a lumbar decompression and instrumented fusion

Acute postoperative surgical site infections (SSI) following instrumented lumbar spine fusions are a relatively infrequent occurrence. Treatment of an SSI with prompt and aggressive surgical debridement along with prolonged postoperative parenteral antibiotics is generally effective and most often results in eradication of the infection and maintenance of the instrumentation. However, it is not clear what the long-term effect of an SSI may be on clinical outcome or more specifically the potential for development of a symptomatic nonunion or instrumentation loosening.

Source: The Spine Journal - August 11, 2021 Category: Orthopaedics Authors: Arya Ahmady, Innocent Njoku, Zachary L. Gordon, Nicholas U. Ahn, Christopher G. Furey Source Type: research