Infective Complications After Spinal Instrumentation

Surgical site infection (SSI) is an uncommon complication of spine surgery, but when it happens, it represents a huge challenge both for the surgeon and the patient, with potentially catastrophic consequences if not treated quickly. In fact, patients with post-operative spine infection require longer hospital lengths of stay, have higher re-operation rates, and are put at high risk of chronic pain, neurological complications, pseudarthrosis that can lead to implant failure, and even death if they involve the spinal cord. Progress was made in reducing the risk of infection by adopting a standardized protocol in the management of the patient both pre-, intra-, and post-operative, and by better understanding of risk factors.