title: Effect of deep wound infection following lumbar arthrodesis for degenerative disc disease on long-term outcome: a prospective study: clinical article.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Deep wound infections are one of the most common and serious complications of spinal surgery. The impact of such infections on long-term outcomes is not well understood. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the functional status and satisfaction in patients who suffered a deep wound infection after undergoing lumbar arthrodesis for symptomatic degenerative disc disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors conducted a prospective study in 13 patients with a clinical and radiological diagnosis of symptomatic degenerative lumbar stenosis and instability; after undergoing decompression and instrumentation-augmented arthrodesis, the patients suffered a deep wound infection (infection group). A 3:1 (39-patient) matched cohort was selected for comparison (control group). All surgeries were performed during the same period and by a single surgeon. The postoperative infections were all treated in a similar manner and the instrumentation was not removed. Both groups were followed up and assessed with validated outcome instruments: Numerical Rating Scale of pain, Oswestry Disability Index, 36-Item Short Form Health Survey, Beck Depression Inventory, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Patient satisfaction was also determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median follow-up duration was 22 months (range 6-108 months). The mean patient age was 62 ± 10 years, and 59.6% of the patients were female. There was no significant difference between the groups in pain, functional disability, quality of life, or depression and anxiety. However, 53.8% of the patients with infection were not satisfied with the procedure at the final evaluation, compared with 15.4% of the patients without a deep wound infection (p = 0.003).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with successfully treated postoperative deep wound infections do not have a difference in functional outcome compared with patients who underwent an identical operation but did not suffer a complicating infection. Patients who suffered an infection were more likely to be unsatisfied with the procedure than patients who did not.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University of Caxias do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. asdrubalmd@gmail.com
authors.forename: Asdrubal
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Falavigna
authors.forename: Orlando
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Righesso
authors.forename: Vincent C
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Traynelis
authors.forename: Alisson Roberto
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Teles
authors.forename: Pedro Guarise
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: da Silva
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003646:Debridement; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D055959:Intervertebral Disc Degeneration / Q000601:surgery*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents