The spine journal : official journal of the North American Spine Society
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Spinal procedures have a potential of intraoperative contamination. C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) have been used to diagnose postoperative infections after spinal surgery. However, it has not been demonstrated if there is an association between surgical site contamination and clinical manifestation of postoperative infection based on inflammatory markers and patients' clinical course. ⋯ The results of this study demonstrate that intraoperative contamination can occur during simple and complex spinal procedures. In the absence of postoperative signs of infection in patients with intraoperative contamination, there is no need of continuing antibiotic treatment. Postoperative kinetics of CRP and ESR showed to be the same in patients with and without intraoperative contamination. Higher levels of inflammatory markers were noted in complex spinal procedures where instrumentation was applied.
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Commentary on: Brier-Jones JE, Palmer DK, Ĭnceoğlu S, Cheng WK. Vertebral body fractures after transpsoas interbody fusion procedures. Spine J 2011;11:1068-72 (in this issue).
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Commentary on: Berg S, Tropp HT, Leivseth G. Disc height and motion patterns in the lumbar spine in patients operated with total disc replacement or fusion for discogenic back pain. Results from a randomized controlled trial. Spine J 2011;11:991-8 (in this issue).