A new study published in The Spine Journal examines risk factors for surgical site infection in pediatric scoliosis surgery.
The researchers examined 135 abstracts and 14 studies on pediatric patients undergoing scoliosis surgery that reported on SSI. There were five high-quality articles and five that were moderate quality.
The researchers identified 76 risk factors and 22 that were reported in more than one study with the overall odds ratios and 95 percent confidence intervals reported inconsistently. The studies found these factors as predictive:
• Inappropriate antibiotic use
• Neuromuscular scoliosis
• Instrumentation
• Longer hospital stays
• Residual postoperative curve