Wound healing without drains in posterior spinal fusion in idiopathic scoliosis.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To determine the frequency of wound infection and neurological injuries in patients with idiopathic scoliosis who underwent posterior spinal fusion without use of drains.

STUDY DESIGN:

Case series.

PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY:

Department of Orthopaedics, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, from February 2007 to June 2010.

METHODOLOGY:

Patients who underwent similar technique of posterior spinal fusion instrumentation for the correction of scoliosis without use of drain were included. Wound Demographics, wound healing, complications and duration of hospital stay were considered and described as frequency and mean values.

RESULTS:

The average age at the time of surgery was 12.80 ± 1.30 years, duration of surgery was 3.80 ± 0.86 hours, hospital stay was 3.84 ± 0.78 days and patients were followed-up over the last 30 months. There was no incidence of any neurological complication and deep infection. However, only 2 (4.16%) cases with superficial skin infection were treated with dressing and antibiotics with full recovery.

CONCLUSION:

The wound healing is adequate without using drain for patients with idiopathic scoliosis who underwent posterior spinal fusion and instrumentation when good wash, watertight closure technique and appropriate antibiotics coverage is provided.

• Authors: Abdulmonem Alsiddiky, Kaleem Ahmed Nisar, Fahad Alhuzaimi, Waleed Albishi, Bader Alnuaim, Mohammed Albarrag, Khalid Bakarman, Sultan Ayoub Meo
• Journal: Journal of the College of Physicians and Surgeons--Pakistan : JCPSP (J Coll Physicians Surg Pak) Vol. 23 Issue 8 Pg. 558-61 (Aug 2013) ISSN: 1681-7168 [Electronic] Pakistan
• PMID: 23930871 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Drainage
• Female
• Humans
• Incidence
• Length of Stay (statistics & numerical data)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Postoperative Complications (epidemiology)
• Saudi Arabia (epidemiology)
• Scoliosis (surgery)
• Spinal Fusion (instrumentation, methods)
• Surgical Wound Infection (epidemiology)
• Treatment Outcome
• Wound Healing
• Young Adult