Single-use instrumentation in posterior lumbar fusion could decrease incidence of surgical site infection: a...

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Neurosurgery
• Surgical Innovation

Background:

• Single-use surgical instruments are emerging to enhance operating room efficiency and minimize infection risks.
• Lumbar fusion surgery aims to treat conditions like degenerative disc disease and spinal stenosis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate clinical outcomes one year after instrumented lumbar fusion using single-use surgical instruments.
• To specifically assess surgical site infection rates and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) changes.

Main Methods:

• A prospective, bi-centric study involving 49 patients (21 men, 28 women) undergoing short instrumented lumbar fusion.
• Patients received posterior or transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion using the SteriSpine™ PS Pedicle Screw System.
• The study design was a Level II, prospective randomized bi-centric trial.

Main Results:

• The Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) improved by 20+ points in 57% of patients.
• A single surgical site infection (2%) was observed, notably lower than the 6% rate in a comparable historical series using reusable instruments.
• Clinical outcomes were comparable to those achieved with reusable instrumentation.

Conclusions:

• Single-use instrumentation may lower surgical site infection rates in lumbar fusion to levels seen in hip and knee arthroplasties.
• Sterile, single-use implants reduce exposure to airborne bacteria and hospital sterilization contamination.
• Shorter operation times and reduced blood loss associated with single-use systems may further decrease infection risks.