This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
Preoperative epidural steroid injections linked with postoperative infection after fusion
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
Results from this study showed a significant increase in postoperative infection rates among patients who were given a preoperative cervical epidural steroid injection within 3 months of anterior cervical discectomy and fusion and those who received injections within 6 months of posterior cervical fusion.
Researchers used a national insurance database to compare patients who underwent cervical epidural steroid injections (CESI) before anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) or posterior cervical fusion (PCF) with regard to postoperative infection rates within 90 days of surgery. Investigators categorized patients into the following three groups based on when patients received an injection: PCF or ACDF within 3 months; PCF or ACDF between 3 months and 6 months; and PCF or ACDF between 6 months and 12 months.
International Classification of Disease revision codes and current procedural terminology codes were used to evaluate 90-day postoperative infection rates. After controlling for age, gender, obesity, diabetes and smoking, investigators used multivariate binomial logistic regression analysis to determine how preoperative injections may influence postoperative infection rates.
Results showed a significant increase in postoperative infections among patients who underwent CESI within 3 months (odds ratio = 2.21) and those who had injections between 3 months and 6 months (odds ratio = 1.95) of PCF. Investigators noted significantly increased postoperative infection rates among patients who underwent CESI within 3 months of ACDF (odds ratio = 1.83). ‒ by Monica Jaramillo
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts