Postoperative Fever Evaluation Following Lumbar Fusion Procedures

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Orthopedic Surgery
• Infectious Disease

Background:

• Postoperative fever is a common concern after spinal surgery.
• Understanding its incidence and risk factors is crucial for patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the incidence of postoperative fever after lumbar fusion.
• To analyze the fever workup, diagnoses, and complications.
• To identify risk factors associated with fever following lumbar fusion.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 868 patients undergoing lumbar fusion.
• Analysis of fever documentation (≥38.6°C), workup, and diagnoses.
• Multivariate regression to identify independent risk factors for fever.

Main Results:

• Fever occurred in 105 (12%) of patients, often within 48 hours postoperatively.
• Fever workup was performed in 45% of febrile patients, identifying causes in only 4.
• Longer operative time (>150 min) and high early narcotic use (>85 OME) were significant risk factors.

Conclusions:

• Postoperative fever is relatively common after lumbar fusion, with limited identifiable causes.
• Extended operative duration and early postoperative opioid consumption are key risk factors.
• Further investigation into the etiology and management of fever in this population is warranted.