Implantable direct current spinal fusion stimulators do not decrease implant-related infections in a rabbit model.
Electrical current detaches bacterial biofilm from implanted instrumentation. Hypothetically, this can decrease implant-related infection and allow retention of instrumentation in cases of postoperative wound infections. We conducted a prospective animal study to investigate whether a 60-μAmp implantable direct current (DC) fusion stimulator decreases implant-related infection rates in a multilevel fixed-implant postoperative spinal wound infection model in rabbits. Three dorsal sites, T13, L3, and L6, were instrumented in each rabbit. A 60-μAmp DC fusion stimulator was implanted in a subcutaneous pouch lateral to the instrumented sites, and leads were connected to 2 of 3 sites in each rabbit. All sites were inoculated with methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA). Rabbits were euthanized at 7 days, and cultures were obtained from the surgical sites, including wound swab, bone, and implants. No significant reduction was observed in postoperative infection rates of bone or implant with 60-μAmp DC (95% and 77%, respectively) compared with no current (91% and 82%, respectively) (P > .5). No significant difference was observed in bacterial load (Ps = .25-.72) between sites receiving DC and control sites. Currently used 60-μAmp DC implantable spinal fusion stimulators do not significantly reduce the rate of postoperative implant-related spinal wound infections in a rabbit model.
Ebrahim
E
Paryavi
Moshe
M
Yanko
David
D
Jaffe
Naren
N
Nimmgadda
Jenna
J
Nouveau
Jason
J
Schiavone
Mohit
M
Gilotra
Daniel
D
Gelb
Department of Orthopaedics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD. sludwig@umoa.edu.
Steven C
SC
Ludwig
D000818:Animals; D018441:Biofilms / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005260:Female; D058542:Implantable Neurostimulators / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology; D011817:Rabbits; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification*