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 Analysis
Orthopedic, Neurosurgeon Roles: Medical Teaching, Administrative & Research
Growing Patient Volume in 2014 & Beyond: 4 Spine Surgeon Initiatives
