What Happens If You Get an Infection After Back Surgery?
Less than 1% of cases risk developing a post-surgical infection after back surgery. Though this is much lower than other surgeries, catching and treating infections promptly is important to avoid serious complications.
So, if you or someone close to you is having spine surgery, it’s important to understand the symptoms of infection, their types, and available treatment options to stay cautious and informed.
In this blog, with insights from an orthopedic spine surgeon in the UK, Mr. Jwalant S. Mehta, we aim to improve awareness about the risk of infection, its symptoms, and possible treatment options so you have the information you need. Read on.
Types of Infection after Back Surgery:
Infections after back surgery can be skin infections, which are considered superficial, less serious and easier to treat. A superficial wound infection can usually be treated with antibiotics and sometimes by removing the skin stitches.
However, sometimes, the infection can also go deeper. These deeper wound infections can be very serious and may require additional operations to drain them. Both types of infection have signs and symptoms that help identify them.
Signs of Infection after Spinal Surgery:
Localized pain at the surgical site, swelling, and chills are some of the common signs. In a few cases, patients may also experience redness at the injection site, numbness or tingling, or spinal weakness.
When left untreated, the symptoms can gradually develop into complications that lead to long-term damage. The most common spinal surgery infection complications include severe pain and discomfort, damage to spinal nerves, spinal deformities, and abscess formation. To address these complications, spinal surgeons may need to perform additional surgery, why it is always important to identify spinal infections and treat them as early as possible to avoid complications.
But how are these infections treated, and what exactly happens when one is diagnosed with an infection after back surgery? Let’s find out.
So what happens if you get an infection after Back Surgery?
A spine surgeon evaluates the symptoms, conducts physical, blood, and imaging tests, and identifies the specific cause of the infection (important for selecting the right antimicrobial medication). Once the cause of the disease is determined, the treatment for infection after back surgery typically involves a combination of approaches aimed at eradicating the infection, relieving pain, preventing neurological damage, and restoring spinal stability.
- Surface-level infection is less serious and can often be treated with oral or IV antibiotics.
- Deeper infections inside the surgical area will need a more comprehensive approach that may involve the following steps:This approach often includes:
- Antimicrobial Therapy:This phase involves IV antibiotics and oral medications over a few weeks to ensure the infection is fully eradicated. Antimicrobial therapy can last from a few weeks to months, depending on the severity of the disease.
- Pain Management:During this period, OTC or prescription pain relievers (like NSAIDs or opioids) may be used to reduce pain and discomfort.
- Spinal Immobilization:In some cases, a back or neck brace may be prescribed to limit movement, provide support, reduce pain, allow healing, and prevent spinal instability during recovery.
- Surgical Intervention (Rare cases):In rare cases where the infection doesn’t respond to the above treatments, or if spinal instability, deformity, or infected surgical hardware, or if symptoms like weakness, numbness, or bladder/bowel dysfunction occur -surgery may be required.
“The surgical procedure usually involves removal of infected tissues, drainage of abscesses, relieving pressure on the spinal cord, and spinal stabilization, based on the specific case of infection,” says one of the top ten spine surgeons in UK Mr. Jwalant S. Mehta.
The treatment for infection varies from case to case. An individualized approach, taking multiple factors into consideration, is essential. Once the infection is under control, physical therapy and rehabilitation help restore strength, mobility, posture, and balance, while managing residual pain.
Can Infections Be Prevented?
Preventing infection after back surgery is a top priority. Spine surgeons follow strict protocols, including pre-operative screening, optimized patient health before surgery, and sterile techniques during and after surgery. However, the patient’s role is equally important.
Patients must strictly follow the post-surgery instructions, including:
- Diligent wound care
- Medication adherence
- Maintaining personal hygiene
- Communicating with their healthcare team immediately if any concelant S. Mehta.rns arise
- Attending follow-up appointments
By actively participating in your care and following these steps, you become a key partner in preventing infections and ensuring a smooth recovery after spine surgery. For more information on infection prevention after back surgery, contact orthopedic spine surgeon Mr. Jwalant S. Mehta.