The Effect of Intrawound Vancomycin Powder in Spine Surgery

Spine Disease

Problem: Postoperative wound infection following various spinal surgeries is a serious complication. The incidence of post-surgical wounds in spine surgery is high, and various researchers have reported different infection rates. In addition, increased healthcare costs, prolonged lengths of stay in hospital, and reduced quality of life as a result of surgical site infections (SSI) are also major concerns. Several methods for avoiding SSI, such as betadine irrigation, vacuum-assisted closure, and intra-wound vancomycin powder, have been used to reduce the rate of wound infection in spine surgery. Use of local vancomycin has been popular because of its protective effects and lower cost. According to some reports, prophylactic administration of intra-wound vancomycin powder before wound closure is an effective method for decreasing postoperative wound infection rates; however, other studies have revealed a non-significant effect of intra-wound vancomycin use for decreasing the postsurgical wound infection rate. Solution: Therefore, the investigators will prospectively randomize all various types of spinal surgeries to patients who will receive intrawound vancomycin powder and control group who will not receive the powder and to see it's effect in reducing the post-surgical infection.

Potential participants will be identified at the clinic, emergency department, or on the floor by history, clinical examination, and positive imaging findings. The surgeon will notify the study coordinator of the potential patient. The study coordinator will introduce the trial to the patient and obtain informed consent at the office during the clinic visit or his hospital stay. Patient's pre-operative data such as demographics (age and sex), presence of comorbidities like diabetes, ischemic heart disease, asthma patients on steroids, nutrition status using serum albumin level, and previous posterior spine surgical procedures at the operative level will be collected once the patient admitted prior to the procedure. The study coordinator will enroll the patient into the trial, and provide the appropriate intervention (vancomycin application, or no application) using the closed envelope technique of randomization to the neurosurgeon performing the procedure. Patients will also be blinded to avoid the placebo effect. All patients will receive the standard systemic antibiotic prophylaxis. The duration of the procedure, estimated blood loss, type of the procedure (instrumented versus non-instrumented) and the number of levels will be recorded. After the intervention, wound infections will be monitored during a follow-up period of 12 weeks from the date of surgery. Cultured organisms and subsequent treatments will be recorded. The primary outcome is the incidence of infection (either in-patient or in the follow-up). The secondary outcome is the development of other complications including Vancomycin related.

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