The researchers examined a multicenter, prospective database of 1,757 patients undergoing surgical correction for ASC. There were 28 patients who developed SSI within the first 90 days — 1.6 percent. The researchers found:
• Patient weight associated with SSI
• The number of levels fused and blood loss as a percentage of blood volume correlated with incidence of SSI
• 26 of the 28 infections were resolve with surgery and/or antibiotics
• Two patients had late pain
“The federal mandate to eliminate SSI and the proposed lack of reimbursement for its treatment may change clinical practice and these data provide average SSI rates across multiple centers for future comparisons,” wrote the authors in their conclusion. “Investigation into variations in practice between centers might yield areas for potential improvement in SSI for AIS patients.”
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