Can We Save the Implant: Rib-based Implant Removal Rates and Risk Factors Following Irrigation and Debridement (I&D) Surgery?

Surgical site infections in early onset scoliosis: what are long-term outcomes in patients with traditional growing rods?

PURPOSE

Deep surgical site infections (SSIs) are a common and potentially severe complication in early onset scoliosis (EOS) patients. We sought to identify the long-term outcomes following SSI, specific risk factors associated with recurrent infections, and if instrument retention is a prudent SSI management strategy in EOS.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective review of all EOS patients who underwent traditional growing rod spine procedures from 2003 to 2017. Infections were categorized as single or multiple SSIs. All infections were treated with operative irrigation and debridement (I&D) as well as antibiotics. Univariate analysis was performed using chi-square and ANOVA tests to assess differing factors between patients with single versus multiple infections.

RESULTS

Eighty-one patients underwent 638 growth-friendly traditional growing rod procedures. There were 21 patients (26%) who developed a total of 27 SSIs (4.2% SSI per procedure). Fifteen patients had a single infection and six patients had multiple infections. Demographics were not significantly different between these two groups. Patients with multiple infections had a significant difference in the number of procedures after initial infection (p value = 0.025) and positive preoperative nasal Staphylococcus aureus screen (p value = 0.0021) when compared to those with a single SSI. Of note, these results were not available at the time of pre-operative antibiotic selection. All 21 patients had resolution of their SSIs. Twenty patients reached final instrumented fusion. Two patients, both of whom had multiple infections, underwent complete removal of instrumentation. Reasons included one each, parental request resulting in termination of treatment and infection > 7 years after final fusion.

CONCLUSION

Most patients who develop SSIs during growing spine treatment are able to remain instrumented. Risk factors associated with developing multiple SSIs include infection earlier in the course of growing spine surgery, a resultant higher number of procedures following the initial infection and having a positive preoperative nasal Staphylococcus aureus screen.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

IV.

Surgical treatment of pressure injuries in children: A multicentre experience

Pressure injuries (PI) are infrequent in paediatric patients, prevalence estimates ranging from 1.4% to 8.2%, and reaching values as high as 43.1% in critical care areas. They can be associated with congenital neurological or metabolic disorders that cause reduced mobility or require the need for medical devices. In children, most pressure injuries heal spontaneously. However, a small percentage of ulcers that is refractory to conservative management or is too severe at presentation (Stage 3 or 4) will be candidates for surgery. We retrospectively reviewed the clinical history of paediatric patients affected by pressure injuries from four European Plastic Surgery Centres. Information was collected from clinical and radiology records, and laboratory reports. An accurate search of the literature revealed only two articles reporting on the surgical treatment of pressure injuries in children. After debridement, we performed surgical coverage of the pressure injuries. We report here our experience with 18 children aged 1–17 years, affected by pressure injury Stages 3 and 4. They were successfully treated with pedicled (17 patients) or free flaps (1 patient). The injuries involved the sacrum (6/18 patients), lower limb (3/18 patients), thoracic spine (2/18 patients), ischium (3/18 patients, bilateral in one patient), temporal area (3/18 patients), hypogastrium (1/18 patients) and were associated to medical devices in three cases. Flaps were followed for a minimum of 19 months and up to 13 years. Only two patients developed true recurrences that were treated again surgically. Pressure injuries are infrequent in children and rarely need surgical treatment. Pedicled flaps have a high success rate. Recurrences, contrary to what is reported in the literature, were rare.