Optimizing Wound Healing Following Cervical Spine Surgery.

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

Background:

• Cervical spine procedures are increasing, often resulting in complex wounds.
• Plastic and reconstructive surgeons (PRSs) are frequently involved in managing these challenging surgical wounds.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of routine PRS closure on cervical spine surgical outcomes.
• To compare outcomes of PRS closure versus standard closure in cervical spine surgery.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 588 cervical spine posterior approach surgeries performed by a single senior author.
• Inclusion of patient demographics, comorbidities, and surgical characteristics.
• Comparison of wound-related complications, reoperations, and readmissions with 12,943 National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) cases.

Main Results:

• The PRS group had a higher prevalence of diabetes and COPD.
• Patients receiving PRS closure had significantly lower rates of return to the operating room (1% vs 3%).
• PRS closure resulted in fewer wound-related readmissions (2% vs 5%).

Conclusions:

• Routine PRS closure of cervical spine wounds is associated with reduced reoperation and readmission rates.
• This intervention is particularly beneficial for patients with comorbidities and complex wounds.
• Evidence supports the routine integration of PRS into cervical spine surgical care for improved patient outcomes.