Perioperative variables of patients with infected spinal fusions in the implant retention and removal groups
| Variable | Group, no. (%)* | p value | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All patients n = 35 | Implant retention n = 14 | Implant removal n = 21 | ||
| ASA score | 0.033 | |||
| I–II | 19 (54.3) | 4 (28.6) | 15 (71.4) | |
| > III | 16 (45.7) | 10 (71.4) | 6 (28.6) | |
| Approach | 0.19 | |||
| Anterior | 1 (2.9) | 1 (7.1) | 0 (0) | |
| Posterior | 23 (65.7) | 7 (50.0) | 16 (76.2) | |
| Combined | 11 (31.4) | 6 (42.9) | 5 (23.8) | |
| Perioperative antibiotic use | 35 (100) | 14 (100) | 21 (100) | > 0.99 |
| Duration of surgery, mean ± SD, min | 492.6 ± 152.7 | 504.5 ± 144.7 | 484.6 ± 160.9 | 0.71 |
| Instrumentation | 0.20 | |||
| Pedicle screws/rods | 20 (57.1) | 6 (42.9) | 14 (66.7) | |
| Sublaminar wiring/rods | 14 (40.0) | 8 (57.1) | 6 (28.6) | |
| Growing rods | 1 (2.9) | 0 (0) | 1(4.8) | |
| Bone graft | 0.009 | |||
| Autograft | 20 (57.1) | 5 (35.7) | 15 (71.4) | |
| Allograft | 10 (28.6) | 4 (28.6) | 6 (28.6) | |
| Both | 5 (14.3) | 5 (35.7) | 0 (0) | |
| Blood loss, mean ± SD, mL/kg | 26.1 ± 23.5 | 30.6 ± 27.1 | 23.1 ± 20.9 | 0.37 |
| Transfusion | 24 (68.6) | 10 (71.4) | 14 (66.7) | 0.77 |
| Volume of transfusion, mean ± SD, mL/kg | 9.8 ± 9.9 | 12.1 ± 12.2 | 8.4 ± 8.0 | 0.29 |
| Distal fusion level | 0.66 | |||
| Thoracic | 1 (2.9) | 0 (0) | 1 (4.8) | |
| Lumbar | 31 (88.6) | 13 (92.9) | 18 (85.7) | |
| Sacrum/pelvis | 3 (8.6) | 1 (7.1) | 2 (9.5) | |
| Fusion length, mean ± SD, no. of segments | 12.4 ± 3.5 | 12.9 ± 3.5 | 12.1 ± 3.5 | 0.50 |
| Drain usage | 15 (42.9) | 8 (57.1) | 7 (33.3) | 0.16 |
ASA = American Society of Anesthesiologists; SD = standard deviation.
↵* Unless otherwise indicated.