A recent study in the Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine identified the rate of infection following posterior lumbar spinal fusion for degenerative spine disease as well as the factors associated with an increased risk of infection after the procedure.
Researchers examined data from 817 patients who underwent instrumented posterior lumbar fusion for degenerative spine disease between 1993 and 2010.
Of the 817 patients, 37 — or 4.5 percent — developed postoperative spine infection. The factors independently associated with an increased risk of infection include:
• Increasing age
• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Previous spine surgery
• Increasing duration of hospital stay
Of the 37 patients in whom infection developed, 21 required operative intervention.
Orthopedic, Neurosurgeon Roles: Medical Teaching, Administrative & Research
Growing Patient Volume in 2014 & Beyond: 4 Spine Surgeon Initiatives
Researchers examined data from 817 patients who underwent instrumented posterior lumbar fusion for degenerative spine disease between 1993 and 2010.
Of the 817 patients, 37 — or 4.5 percent — developed postoperative spine infection. The factors independently associated with an increased risk of infection include:
• Increasing age
• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Previous spine surgery
• Increasing duration of hospital stay
Of the 37 patients in whom infection developed, 21 required operative intervention.
More Articles on Spine:
Anterior Spine Surgery for Disc Herniation at C7-T1: Outcomes AnalysisOrthopedic, Neurosurgeon Roles: Medical Teaching, Administrative & Research
Growing Patient Volume in 2014 & Beyond: 4 Spine Surgeon Initiatives
