Postsurgical Spinal Infection

Abstract

According to the surgical site and the time since surgery, postoperative spine infections can be divided into superficial (above the fascial layer) or deep (below the fascial layer) and acute (early-onset; within 3–4 weeks since surgery) or chronic (late-onset; more than 4 weeks after surgery).

The development of a postoperative infection puts the patient at increased risk for pseudoarthrosis, chronic pain, adverse neurological sequelae, return to the operating room, worsened long-term outcomes, and—in most severe cases—even death.

A high index of suspicion is needed to make an early diagnosis; if treated promptly through debridement and lavage in association with targeted antibiotic therapy (according to deep culture results), the outcome is generally good.