title: Infection rate of spinal cord stimulators after a screening trial period. A 53-month third party follow-up.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Spinal cord stimulator (SCS) infections are common (2.5-13%) and may cause harm. It is unclear if a screening trial with definitive leads presents an increased infection risk.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-four patients with SCS implantations were reviewed from 2004 to May 2008 with a trial period lasting 1-3 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the trial one infection (1.2%) occurred with removal of the SCS leads. Three infections (3.6%) occurred after the second stage and were successfully treated with antibiotics. No full implant was explanted due to infection. The more skilled/experienced operator had a lower infection rate (1.8%) than the less skilled/experienced (13%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our infection rate (4.8%) compared favorably with our previous survey (7.5%). The reduced number of SCS infections is likely to be due to: strict asepsis, double layer hydrocolloid dressing during the trial, prophylactic antibiotics, operator experience, and patient education. Two-stage procedures with extended trials do not seem to increase the incidence of SCS infections.
authors: Anesthetics & Paediatric ICU, St. George's Hospital, Tooting, UK.
authors: Jan
authors: J
authors: Rudiger
authors: Simon
authors: S
authors: Thomson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000628:therapy; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000502:physiology*; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents