title: Continuous irrigation and drainage for early postoperative deep wound infection after posterior instrumented spinal fusion.
abstract: METHODS
  A retrospective study of clinical cases.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of continuous irrigation and drainage for early postoperative deep wound infection after posterior instrumented spinal fusion.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Aggressive debridement and irrigation has been recommended to treat postoperative wound infections after instrumented spinal fusion. However, this method of management, indicating repeating visits to the operating room until the wound is clean enough for closure, often results in prolonged hospitalization, increased cost, and sometimes compromise of the desired outcome. We hypothesize that repeat visits to the operating room for debridements can be avoided by aggressive debridements and primary closure with continuous irrigation and drainage for postoperative wound infections.
  
  
  METHODS
  From 2004 to 2009, 23 patients with early postoperative deep wound infections after spinal fusion with instrumentation were surgically treated with thorough debridement and primary closure with continuous irrigation and drainage. All patients were followed up for 30.6 months (range, 24-54 mo).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean duration of irrigation was 12.0 days (range, 7-16 d). In 21 patients (91.3%), the wound healed after continuous irrigation. The removal of the instrumentation or cages was not required in any case. Spinal fusion was achieved in all cases, except 1, where the patient developed a pseudoarthrosis at the L4-L5 level after L4-S1 fusion. The mean ODI for these 23 patients improved significantly from 53.4±18.7 preoperatively to 18.3±11.2 at the final follow-up visit (P<0.001). The mean JOA scores increased significantly from 15.5±4.1 preoperatively to 24.3±3.8 at the final follow-up (P<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Continuous irrigation and drainage is an effective and safe method for the treatment of early postoperative deep wound infection after posterior instrumented spinal fusion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Feng
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Lian
authors.forename: Jian-Guang
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Bing-Fang
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Xiao-Kang
authors.initials: XK
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Man-le
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.forename: Er-Zhu
authors.initials: EZ
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003646:Debridement; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004322:Drainage / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016268:Internal Fixators; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000628:therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000628:therapy*; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult