The Use of Wound Vacuums in the Management of Postoperative Wound Infections

Wound infection is a potentially devastating complication after spinal surgery. The primary treatment for this condition is irrigation and debridement with appropriate antibiotic coverage. Once a wound is cleared of infection, primary closure is generally possible. However, on occasion, the issue of an open defect with potentially exposed neural elements and hardware must be managed. Vacuum-assisted devices have been advocated to assist in the healing of such complex wounds and have been well studied in other surgical fields. The concept of this technique is that any potential fluid collections are drained, soft tissues are approximated, and regular wound checks remain possible. Although this seems to be a promising means of facilitating healing of spine wounds by secondary intention, controlled studies have yet to be performed.