Wound management with vacuum-assisted closure in postoperative infections after surgery for spinal stenosis

Figures & data

Figure 1 Pre-VAC spinal wound (A); after application of the VAC device (B).

Abbreviation: VAC, vacuum-assisted closure.

Figure 2 After surgical debridement and before VAC application.

Abbreviation: VAC, vacuum-assisted closure.

Table 1 Baseline patient characteristics

Case no	Sex/age (yrs)	Diagnosis	Initial procedure	Postop infection	First surgical revision (postoperative day)	VAC duration	Number of VAC changes and number of debridements	Initial IV antibiotic therapy	Final IV antibiotic therapy	Duration of IV antibiotic therapy	Normalization duration of laboratory findings
1	F/49	Spinal stenosis	TLIF + posterior fusion	MRSA	14	9 days	3	Ampicillin/sulbactam	Teicoplanin	6 weeks	4 weeks
2	F/58	Spinal stenosis	TLIF + posterior fusion	MRSA	13	15 days	5	Ampicillin/sulbactam	Teicoplanin	8 weeks	6 weeks
3	F/62	Spinal stenosis	TLIF + posterior fusion	MRSA	9	12 days	4	Ampicillin/sulbactam	Teicoplanin	8 weeks	6 weeks
4	F/60	Spinal stenosis	TLIF + posterior fusion	MRSA	19	12 days	4	Ampicillin/sulbactam	Teicoplanin	7 weeks	5 weeks
5	F/54	Spinal stenosis	TLIF + posterior fusion	MRSA	15	21 days	7	Ampicillin/sulbactam	Teicoplanin	6 weeks	4 weeks
6	F/51	Spinal stenosis	TLIF + posterior fusion	MRSA	14	24 days	8	Ampicillin/sulbactam	Teicoplanin	5 weeks	3 weeks

Abbreviations: IV, intravenous; MRSA, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus; postop, postoperative; TLIF, transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion; VAC, vacuum-assisted closure; yrs, years.