High infection rates in patients with long-segment dynesys system

Abstract

Background: Infection follow-up in patients stabilized with the Dynesys system. Infection rates were determined in patients who had >= 5 segments stabilized with the Dynesys system. Methods: Eighty-three patients with various etiologies were stabilized with the Dynesys system. Long-level stabilization patients were separated from the main group as a result of their high rates of infection. Results: Long-level stabilizations were performed in 8 of 83 patients. Five patients were determined to have infections including 4 deep infections and 1 superficial infection. In patients with deep infections, 3 of them exhibited chronic infections that lasted for approximately 2 years and the system was removed. A deep infection in 1 patient and a superficial infection in 1 patient were diagnosed after 1 month. The early-diagnosed deep infection patient was treated with wound irrigation and antibiotics. The system was not removed, and the wound was closed with daily dressing after 45 days. One superficial infection patient was only treated with daily dressing, and the infection healed within 2 weeks. The infectious agent was determined in 2 patients. Three patients in the chronic infection group underwent a surgical procedure to remove the system. Specific antibiotic treatments were administered to patients whose infectious agents were identified. The remaining patients were treated with wide-spectrum antibiotics. Conslusions: We report that long-level stabilization with the Dynesys system results in a high infection rate.