Turkish Neurosurgery 2007 , Vol 17 , Num 2
Delayed Infection 6 Years After Spinal Instrumentation: A Case Report
Erhan EMEL1, Feyza KARAGÖZ GÜZEY2, Deniz GÜZEY3, Hakan SEYİTHANOĞLU4, Barış SEL5, İbrahim ALATAŞ6
1,2,4,5,6Vakıf Gureba Eğitim Hastanesi, Noröşirürji, İstanbul, Turkey
3Vakıf Gureba Eğitim Hastanesi, Genel Cerrahi, İstanbul, Turkey
Infection is the major and important complication of spinal instrumentation generally requiring removal of the implant. Although findings of infection usually appear within a few months after operation, they may appear even after few years in some cases. A case with delayed postoperative infection 6 years after surgery is reported. A 27-year-old female with purulent flow from her anterolateral skin incision scar was diagnosed as delayed spinal infection 6 years after anterior and posterior combined spinal instrumentation performed for treatment of giant cell tumor of L3 vertebral body. Staphylococcus aureus was detected from purulent flow. Infection was treated by removal of the implant and antibiotherapy. Spinal infection after instrumentation may appear even a few years later. Patients must therefore be carefully followed for a long time. Staphylococcus aureus can stay silent for a long time. Keywords : Delayed infection, Instrumentation, Postoperative complication, Spinal infection
Corresponding author : Feyza Karagöz Güzey, fkarag@yahoo.com