Quantitation of C-reactive protein levels and erythrocyte sedimentation rate after spinal surgery.
C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were prospectively measured after four types of uncomplicated spinal operations. In all patients, preoperative normal C-reactive protein (less than 10 mg/L) increased, reaching peak levels on the second day after microdiscectomy (46 +/- 21 mg/L) and anterior fusion (70 +/- 23 mg/L), and at the third day after conventional discectomy (92 +/- 47 mg/L) and posterolateral intercorporal fusion (173 +/- 39 mg/L), with normalization in 5-14 days. Peak levels were not related to bleeding, transfusion, operation time, administered drugs, age, or sex. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate increased to peak levels about 5 days after surgery, followed by a slow and irregular decrease, and at 21-42 days after surgery often remained elevated. The rapid decline in C-reactive protein will probably be interrupted by a second rise or persisting elevation if infection occurs. C-reactive protein is presumably a better test than erythrocyte sedimentation rate for early detection of postoperative infection.
Thelander
U
U
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University Hospital, Umeå, Sweden.
Larsson
S
S
D000328:Adult; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000097:blood / Q000601:surgery*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013123:Spinal Fusion; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D013997:Time Factors
D002097:C-Reactive Protein