Risk factors for postoperative spinal wound infections after spinal decompression and fusion surgeries.
METHODS
This is a multivariate analysis of a prospectively collected database.


OBJECTIVE
To determine preoperative, intraoperative, and patient characteristics that contribute to an increased risk of postoperative wound infection in patients undergoing spinal surgery.


BACKGROUND
Current literature sites a postoperative infection rate of approximately 4%; however, few have completed multivariate analysis to determine factors which contribute to risk of infection.


METHODS
Our study identified patients who underwent a spinal decompression and fusion between 1997 and 2006 from the Veterans Affairs' National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the effect of various preoperative variables on postoperative infection.


RESULTS
Data on 24,774 patients were analyzed. Wound infection was present in 752 (3.04%) patients, 287 (1.16%) deep, and 468 (1.89%) superficial. Postoperative infection was associated with longer hospital stay (7.12 vs. 4.20 days), higher 30-day mortality (1.06% vs. 0.5%), higher complication rates (1.24% vs. 0.05%), and higher return to the operating room rates (37% vs. 2.45%). Multivariate logistic regression identified insulin dependent diabetes (odds ratios [OR] = 1.50), current smoking (OR = 1.19) ASA class of 3 (OR = 1.45) or 4 to 5 (OR = 1.66), weight loss (OR = 2.14), dependent functional status (1.36) preoperative HCT <36 (1.37), disseminated cancer (1.83), fusion (OR = 1.24) and an operative duration of 3 to 6 hours (OR = 1.33) or >6 hours (OR = 1.40) as statistically significant predictors of postoperative infection.


CONCLUSIONS
Using multivariate analysis of a large prospectively collected data from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database, we identified the most important risk factors for increased postoperative spinal wound infection. We have demonstrated the high mortality, morbidity, and hospitalization costs associated with postoperative spinal wound infections. The information provided should help alert clinicians to presence of these risks factors and the likelihood of higher postoperative infections and morbidity in spinal surgery patients.
Veeravagu
Anand
A
Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
Patil
Chirag G
CG
Lad
Shivanand P
SP
Boakye
Maxwell
M
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015897:Comorbidity; D016208:Databases, Factual; D019299:Decompression, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008136:Longevity; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012086:Reoperation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000401:mortality* / Q000451:nursing; D013997:Time Factors