Vertebral osteomyelitis after spine instrumentation surgery: risk factors and management.

BACKGROUND: Vertebral osteomyelitis after spine instrumentation surgery (pVOM) is a rare complication. Most cases of infection occur early after surgery that involve skin and soft tissue and can be managed with debridement, antibiotics, and implant retention (DAIR). AIM: To identify pVOM risk factors and evaluate management strategies. METHODS: From a multicentre cohort of deep infection after spine instrumentation (IASI) cases (2010-2016), pVOM cases were compared with those without vertebral involvement. Early and late infections were defined (<60 days and >60 days after surgery, respectively). Multivariate analysis was used to explore risk factors. FINDINGS: Among 410 IASI cases, 19 (4.6%) presented with pVOM, ranging from 2% (7/347) in early to 19.1% (12/63) in late IASIs. After multivariate analysis, age (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 1.10; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.03-1.18), interbody fusion (aOR: 6.96; 95% CI: 2-24.18) and coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) infection (aOR: 3.83; 95% CI: 1.01-14.53) remained independent risk factors for pVOM. Cases with pVOM had worse prognoses than those without (failure rate; 26.3% vs 10.8%; P = 0.038). Material removal was the preferred strategy (57.9%), mainly in early cases, without better outcomes (failure rate; 33.3% vs 50% compared with DAIR). Late cases managed with removal had greater success compared with DAIR (failure rate; 0% vs 40%; P = 0.067). CONCLUSION: Risk factors for pVOM are old age, use of interbody fusion devices and CoNS aetiology. Although the diagnosis leads to a worse prognosis, material withdrawn should be reserved for late cases or when spinal fusion is achieved.

Pronóstico de la infección profunda en la cirugía raquídea con implante, tratada mediante retención, retirada del injerto óseo y antibioterapia prolongada / Prognosis of deep infection in spinal surgery using implants, treated by retention, removal of bone graft and lengthy antibiotherapy

Objetivo: La infección profunda de la herida quirúrgica (IPHQ) es una complicación que predispone a un alto riesgo de fracaso en cirugía raquídea con fijación vertebral. El objetivo del presente estudio ha sido valorar la tasa de IPHQ en este tipo de pacientes y su pronóstico siguiendo un abordaje terapéutico homogéneo. Material y método: Estudio observacional retrospectivo en el que se incluyó a 799 pacientes mayores de 14 años, intervenidos de cirugía raquídea con fijación vertebral entre enero de 2010 y diciembre de 2014, en el Servicio de Traumatología y Cirugía Ortopédica de nuestro centro. Todos los pacientes diagnosticados de IPHQ fueron tratados de forma homogénea mediante desbridamiento, sustitución del injerto óseo, retención del implante y tratamiento antimicrobiano de 8 semanas. Tras finalizar el tratamiento, los pacientes fueron seguidos durante un periodo de 12 meses. Resultados: De total de los pacientes tratados mediante artrodesis, 32 (4%) tuvieron una IPHQ. Tres pacientes fueron perdidos en el seguimiento. La muestra final analizable fue de 29 casos, los cuales tenían una mediana de edad de 54,9 años (IQR: 45,7-67 años) y un índice de comorbilidad de Charlson de 2,0 (IQR: 0-3). El diagnóstico microbiológico fue establecido en el 75,8% de los casos. De ellos, la IPHQ fue monomicrobiana en el 68,2% y polimicrobiana en el 31,8%. Con el abordaje terapéutico aplicado curaron sin secuelas el 96% y la tasa de recidivas y reintervención fue del 4%. Conclusión: El tratamiento mediante desbridamiento, retención, sustitución del injerto y tratamiento antimicrobiano de 8 semanas parece una estrategia muy eficaz para los pacientes con fijación vertebral que desarrollan IPHQ

Objective: Surgical site infections (SSIs) are complications that predispose to a high risk of unfavourable surgical outcomes. The aim of this study was to assess the SSI rate in this type of patients and their prognosis with similar treatment. Materials and methods: A retrospective case series of 799 patients above 18 years old with spinal instrumentation surgery, between January 2010 and December 2014 in the traumatology and orthopaedic surgery department of our institution. All patients with SSIs were treated by debridement, graft replacement, retention of the instrumentation and lengthy courses of antimicrobial therapy. The patients were followed up for a period of 12 months. Results: Of all the patients with arthrodesis, 32 (4%) had spinal SSIs. Three patients were lost to follow-up. The final sample analyzed comprised 29 cases, with a median age of 54.9 years (IQR, 45.7-67 years) and a Charlson comorbidity index of 2.0 (IQR; 0-3). A microbiological diagnosis was obtained in 75.8% of the cases. Of these, the ISSs were monomicrobial in 68.2% and polymicrobial in 31.8%. Once treatment had been completed, 96% were cured without sequelae, and the rate of recurrence and reoperation was 4%. Conclusions: Treatment based on debridement, retention of the instrumentation, graft replacement and lengthy courses of antimicrobial therapy seems a very effective strategy in the treatment of patients with deep surgical site infection in spine surgery

Prognosis of deep infection in spinal surgery using implants, treated by retention, removal of bone graft and lengthy antibiotherapy. / Pronóstico de la infección profunda en la cirugía raquídea con implante, tratada mediante retención, retirada del injerto óseo y antibioterapia prolongada.

OBJECTIVE: Surgical site infections (SSIs) are complications that predispose to a high risk of unfavourable surgical outcomes. The aim of this study was to assess the SSI rate in this type of patients and their prognosis with similar treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective case series of 799 patients above 18 years old with spinal instrumentation surgery, between January 2010 and December 2014 in the traumatology and orthopaedic surgery department of our institution. All patients with SSIs were treated by debridement, graft replacement, retention of the instrumentation and lengthy courses of antimicrobial therapy. The patients were followed up for a period of 12 months. RESULTS: Of all the patients with arthrodesis, 32 (4%) had spinal SSIs. Three patients were lost to follow-up. The final sample analyzed comprised 29 cases, with a median age of 54.9 years (IQR, 45.7-67 years) and a Charlson comorbidity index of 2.0 (IQR; 0-3). A microbiological diagnosis was obtained in 75.8% of the cases. Of these, the ISSs were monomicrobial in 68.2% and polymicrobial in 31.8%. Once treatment had been completed, 96% were cured without sequelae, and the rate of recurrence and reoperation was 4%. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment based on debridement, retention of the instrumentation, graft replacement and lengthy courses of antimicrobial therapy seems a very effective strategy in the treatment of patients with deep surgical site infection in spine surgery.