title: Treatment of complex postoperative lumbosacral wounds in nonparalyzed patients.
abstract: Postoperative infections after back operations can produce complex wounds with myonecrosis, deep dead space, and exposed orthopedic hardware, bone, and dura. Three ambulatory patients with complex postoperative back wounds that resulted from infections were treated successfully with antibiotics, debridement, irrigation, and closure of deep dead space with a superior gluteal muscle flap. Several surgical maneuvers can be performed to increase the length of the superior gluteal muscle flap. The inferior portion of the gluteus maximus was left intact to preserve gluteus maximus function. All three patients obtained healed wounds. The exposed A.O. plating system was not removed. There has not been any recurrence of infections. The superior gluteal muscle flap is a reasonable flap to fill deep dead space in the low back and has some advantages over free flaps.
authors.affiliation: Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian, Newport Beach, Calif, USA.
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Wendt
authors.forename: V O
authors.initials: VO
authors.lastname: Gardner
authors.forename: J I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: White
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003646:Debridement; D016983:Enterococcus; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000601:surgery; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000601:surgery; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000473:pathology / Q000637:transplantation; D009336:Necrosis; D009984:Orthopedic Fixation Devices / Q000009:adverse effects; D010243:Paralysis; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000601:surgery; D012008:Recurrence; D012447:Sacrum / Q000601:surgery*; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000009:adverse effects; D013130:Spinal Stenosis / Q000601:surgery; D013168:Spondylolisthesis / Q000601:surgery; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery*; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation; D014945:Wound Healing
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents