The Incidence of Infection after Posterior Cervical Spine Surgery: A 10 Year Review

Background The incidence of infection after posterior cervical spine surgery ranges from 0 to 18%. Higher rates have been reported after posterior procedures compared with anterior procedures, but these studies have been for small series. We report on our rate of surgical site infection (SSI) after posterior cervical spine surgery and the risk factors that influence these infections. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the records of 90 consecutive patients who underwent posterior cervical spine procedures at a major spinal referral center between 1998 and 2007. The main indications for surgery were trauma and degenerative conditions. Tumors and primary infections were excluded. Medical records of these patients were examined for evidence of SSI as diagnosed by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria. Results Using stringent criteria for diagnosing SSI, we found 15 infected patients (16.67%). The postoperative use of a Philadelphia hard collar was found to be a significant risk factor for SSI with a relative risk of 15.30 (95% confidence interval 2.10 to 111.52). Almost half of infected patients (47%) required reoperation for wound debridement, with four requiring skin flap closure. All 15 patients had successful outcomes with complete resolution of their infection. Conclusions This study confirms a high incidence of SSI after posterior cervical surgery. The most significant risk factors for SSI were found to be a traumatic etiology and postoperative use of a collar. We believe it is important to develop strategies to minimize the risk of infection after posterior cervical surgery, which include questioning the postoperative use of collars.