Pain Relief After Spinal Surgery Infection Does Not Mean Complication Risk Is Gone

In a systematic review and meta-analysis of more than 2,600 patients, researchers found that infection at the site of spinal fusion surgery does not necessarily lead to greater long-term pain and disability if implants are retained. However, it increases the risk of nonunion, reoperation, and readmission.

In a systematic review and meta-analysis, the researchers showed that the infection of the spine fusion surgery site, if the implants are kept, does not necessarily lead to more pain and disability in the long term, but it increases the risk of non-union of the vertebrae, re-surgery and re-hospitalization.