RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To describe the characteristics and evolution of deep surgical site infection following thoracolumbar instrumented spinal surgery (DSITIS) in our centre over a period of ten years. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Descriptive retrospective study. Patient data (epidemiological/health status), surgical data, infection characteristics/presentation, isolated microorganisms, required surgical debridements, implant removal and major complications linked to infection were evaluated. RESULTS: We included 110 patients (80 females). Median follow-up after infection diagnosis was 3.6years. Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, adult deformity and degenerative lumbar stenosis were the most frequent aetiologies. Sixty-two percent of the patients had at least one clinical feature that made them prone to infection. Infection presentation was early (0-3months from first surgery) in 60.4% of the cases, delayed (3-24months) in 11.7%, and late (more than 24months) in 27%. All patients were treated by surgical debridement. Twenty-five percent needed more than one surgical debridement. Implants were removed in 46% of the patients (71% in the first surgical debridement). The most frequent isolated microorganisms were coagulasa-negative Staphylococcus, Propionibacterium acnes and Enterococcus. Major complications appeared in 15% of the patients, and 88% of them required major surgeries. CONCLUSIONS: Late DSITIS is more frequent than previously reported. Skin microorganisms predominate among the DSITIS culprits. DSIITS produce a high rate of major complications that usually require major surgery for treatment.