A new study published in Spine examines the connection between infections and mortality following spine surgery.
Study authors examined patients who underwent spine surgery at a single institution who required reoperation after elective procedures. There were 195 patients who underwent the reoperations between 2005 and 2013. The key findings include:
1. Patients developed surgical site infection 27.4 days after surgery on average, with a range of one to 467 days after surgery.
2. Mortality rates among SSI patients were:
● 90-day: 1.54 percent
● One year: 4.62 percent
● Two year: 7.73 percent
● Five year: 15.45 percent
3. Mortality rates among the control group were:
● 90-day: 1.03 percent
● One year: 1.2 percent
● Two year: 2.25 percent
● Five year: 3.43 percent
4. Among the SSI patients, predictors of mortality by two years after surgery include older age and higher Charlson Comorbidity Index. The region of the country patients lived in, days to infection and reason for surgery didn't have an impact on mortality risk.
5. Study authors concluded, "SSI results in significant morbidity in the postoperative period, with the risk of reoperation, prolonged hospitalization, and need for other invasive procedures. In addition, this study provides evidence that SSI is associated with an increased mortality following elective surgery."