Risk Factors for Postoperative Surgical Site Infection in Patients Undergoing Spinal Tumor Surgery

Area of Science:

• Spine surgery
• Oncology
• Infectious disease

Background:

• Surgical site infection (SSI) is a significant complication following spinal surgery.
• SSI in spinal tumor patients undergoing reoperation increases mortality, hospital stay, and costs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify risk factors for postoperative surgical site infection (SSI) in patients with spinal tumors requiring reoperation.
• To analyze clinical data to determine independent predictors of SSI in this patient cohort.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective comparative case-control study of 202 patients with spinal tumors undergoing surgery between 2008-2018.
• 101 patients with SSI and reoperation (SSI group) were matched with 101 patients without SSI (control group).
• Logistic regression analysis was employed to identify SSI-associated risk factors.

Main Results:

• Multivariate analysis revealed revision status (B=1.430, P=0.028) as a significant risk factor.
• Fusion of 4 or more spinal levels (B=0.963, P=0.006) was associated with increased SSI risk.
• The use of bone cement (B=0.739, P=0.046) was also identified as an independent risk factor for SSI.

Conclusions:

• Revision status, extensive spinal fusion (≥4 levels), and bone cement are independent risk factors for SSI in reoperated spinal tumor patients.
• These findings can inform strategies to mitigate SSI risk in high-risk surgical cases.
• Further research may explore specific interventions to reduce SSI in patients undergoing revision spinal tumor surgery.