Reactivation of herpesvirus in neurosurgical patients

The authors are presenting seven patients who had operations between July 1984 and July 1985 and who developed herpes infections postoperatively. Four of the patients developed their infections in a dermatomal distribution that correlated with the nerve roots manipulated at operation. A spectrum of localized herpes reactivation is demonstrated in this series. The use of corticosteroids and other associated variables are discussed. Like reactivation of herpes simplex after trigeminal nerve operation, we believe reactivation of herpes simplex and herpes zoster can occur in operation of the cervical, thoracic, or lumbosacral spine.