Abstract
Purpose
Postoperative surgical site infection in patients treated with lumbosacral fusion has usually been thought to be caused by perioperative contamination. With the proximity of these incisions to the perineum, this study sought to determine if contamination by gastrointestinal and/or urogenital flora should be considered as a major cause of this complication.
Methods
We conducted a retrospective review of adults treated with open posterior lumbosacral fusions between 2014 and 2021 to identify common factors in deep postoperative infection and the nature of the infecting organisms. Cases of tumor, primary infection and minimally invasive surgery were excluded.
Results
489 eligible patients were identified, 20 of which required debridement deep to the fascia (4.1%). Mean age, operative time, estimated blood loss and levels fused were similar between both groups. The infected group had a significantly higher BMI. The mean time from primary procedure to debridement was 40.8 days. Four patients showed no growth, 3 showed Staphylococcus sp. infection (Perioperative Inside–Out) requiring debridement at 63.5 days. Thirteen showed infection with intestinal or urogenital pathogens (Postoperative Outside–In) requiring debridement at 20.0 days. Postoperative Outside–In infections led to debridement 80.3 days earlier than Perioperative Inside–Out infections (p = 0.007).
Conclusions
65% of deep infections in patients undergoing open lumbosacral fusion were due to early contamination by pathogens associated with the gastrointestinal and/or urogenital tracts. These required earlier debridement than Staphylococcus sp. infections. There should be renewed focus on keeping these pathogens away from the incision during the early stages of wound healing.
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Data availability
Data is made available through direct communication with the corresponding author.
Code availability
Not applicable.
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BR MD FRCS (Tr & Orth) Data collection, analysis and manuscript preparation. Approved final manuscript. BD Data collection and analysis. Approved final manuscript. LR Data collection and analysis. Approved final manuscript. YRR MD, FRCS(C) Data collection and analysis. Approved final manuscript. CN MD FRCS(C) Data collection and analysis. Approved final manuscript. FJ MD FRCS(C) Data collection and analysis. Approved final manuscript. AV MD MAS FRCPC Data collection and analysis. Approved final manuscript. SJL MD MSc FRCS(C) Study conception, manuscript preparation, Approved final manuscript.
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SL receives grant funding from AO Spine, Scoliosis Research Society and the British Scoliosis Research Foundation; Instrument design royalties from Medtronic and has leadership roles in AO Knowledge Forum Deformity and the Scoliosis Research Society. BR, BD, LR, YRR, CN, FJ, AV have no declarations.
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Rocos, B., Davidson, B., Rabinovitch, L. et al. Local contamination is a major cause of early deep wound infections following open posterior lumbosacral fusions. Spine Deform 11, 1209–1221 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43390-023-00694-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s43390-023-00694-x