J Korean Soc Spine Surg.  2008 Sep;15(3):149-156. 10.4184/jkss.2008.15.3.149.

Risk Factors of Deep Infection after Thoracic and Lumbar Spinal Arthrodesis

• Song KJ
• Song KH
• Park YG
• Lee KB

• KMID: 1747198
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4184/jkss.2008.15.3.149

Abstract

STUDY DESIGN: This is a retrospective analysis
OBJECTIVES
We wanted to analyze the risk factors related to deep infection and removing an implant after thoracic and lumbar spinal arthrodesis. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEWS: The relationship between deep infection and implant removal is controversial.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We retrospectively compared the infection group with the non-infection group for the rates of deep infection, the preoperative diagnosis, the number of fused segments, the operative methods, the graft materials, the operating time and the blood loss. Moreover, we classified the deep infection patients into two groups: those who underwent implant removal and those who did not, and we compared the microorganisms that were cultured out of the patients. We also compared the relationship of deep infection with the risk factors, the mean hospital stay and the mean number of operations.
RESULTS
There were 18 cases (2.46%) of deep infection. The factors that did not show a significant difference were the preoperative diagnosis, the graft material, the increased number of fused segments, age, gender and BMI. The factors that were significant were the operating time (p=0.001), the amount of blood loss (p<0.000), DM (p=0.021), and PLF (p=0.054). The incidence of implant removal was higher for the cases with deep infection caused by MRSA. We were able to see a significant difference of between the group that had undergone implant removal and the group that had not undergone implant removal.
CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of deep infection after thoracic and lumbar spinal athrodesis increased as the operating time and blood loss increased, and it was also higher when either PLF or DM were present. Implant removal causes bad clinical results, so physicians should be very cautious when operating on a case of implant removal.

Keyword

Thoracic and lumbar spine; Arthrodesis; Deep infection; Risk factor

MeSH Terms

Arthrodesis
Humans
Incidence
Length of Stay
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Retrospective Studies
Risk Factors
Transplants

Figure

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  Fig. 1. Antibiotic bead insertion was made up of cement beads impregrnated susceptible antibiotics on twisted wires.

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  Fig. 2. 62 year-old female underwent the PLIF on L4-5-S1 due to spondylolisthesis (A, B). The deep infection occurred on postoperative 14 days, we took the two times debridement and antibiotic bead insertion (C). The last follow-up plain lateral radiogram shows bony fusion and no lower back pain and neurologic deficit clinically (D).

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  Fig. 3. 60 year-old male underwent the PLF on L4-5 due to spinal stenosis (A, B). The deep infection occurred on postoperative 26 days, we took the three times debridement and antibiotic bead insertion, but sustained the infection sign, and removed the implants (C). The last follow-up plain lateral radiogram shows bone loss and destruction of L4-5 disc space and moderate lower back and right leg pain clinically (D).

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