Reflection on infection: Commentary on an article by Brandon A. Ramo, MD, et al.: "Surgical site infections after posterior spinal fusion for neuromuscular scoliosis. a thirty-year experience at a single institution".

Abstract

Patients with neuromuscular scoliosis are a diverse group who are challenging to treat, with higher rates of surgical site infection following posterior spinal fusion than patients with idiopathic scoliosis1. Surgical site infection after posterior spinal fusion is costly, is difficult to manage, and may require multiple procedures including implant removal. Ramo et al. performed a retrospective review of patients at one institution who underwent posterior spinal fusion for neuromuscular scoliosis over a thirty-year period. They examined surgical site infection in this population and reviewed patient and treatment factors associated with surgical site infection. The study, which spans three decades, is the largest reported in the literature, with 428 patients and an …