Yasser Aljabi1, Angelo Manca2, Jessica Ryan2, Amr Elshawarby3. 1. Department of Spinal Surgery, Tawam Hospital in affiliation with Johns Hopkins Medical, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates; Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, St. Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland. Electronic address: Yasseraljabi@rcsi.ie. 2. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, St. Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland. 3. Department of Spinal Surgery, Tawam Hospital in affiliation with Johns Hopkins Medical, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.
Abstract
AIM: To compare the value of Procalcitonin (PCT) as a marker of surgical site infection to other inflammatory markers, including C-Reactive Protein (CRP), White Cell Count (WCC) and Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) in patients undergoing a number of spinal procedures. This study also aims to describe the biokinetic profile of the above-named markers in patients developing surgical site infection and those remaining infection-free post-operatively. METHODS: 200 patients undergoing four routine elective spinal procedures were included for analysis. All patients had blood specimens taken at baseline, day 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 post-operatively for analysis of PCT, CRP, ESR and WCC levels. All patients were monitored for early surgical site infection. Patients with other sources of infection in the early postoperative period were excluded. RESULTS: Procalcitonin was the most sensitive and specific marker for the detection of surgical site infection in the immediate post-operative period with sensitivity and specificity of 100% and 95.2% respectively. Although Procalcitonin is an inflammatory marker, extent of surgical physiological insult did not alter its biokinetics as opposed to the other inflammatory markers making it a valuable marker of infection. CONCLUSION: Procalcitonin was found to be superior to the other inflammatory markers investigated in this study as a marker for early surgical site infection in patients undergoing spinal surgery.
AIM: To compare the value of Procalcitonin (PCT) as a marker of surgical site infection to other inflammatory markers, including C-Reactive Protein (CRP), White Cell Count (WCC) and Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) in patients undergoing a number of spinal procedures. This study also aims to describe the biokinetic profile of the above-named markers in patients developing surgical site infection and those remaining infection-free post-operatively. METHODS: 200 patients undergoing four routine elective spinal procedures were included for analysis. All patients had blood specimens taken at baseline, day 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 post-operatively for analysis of PCT, CRP, ESR and WCC levels. All patients were monitored for early surgical site infection. Patients with other sources of infection in the early postoperative period were excluded. RESULTS: Procalcitonin was the most sensitive and specific marker for the detection of surgical site infection in the immediate post-operative period with sensitivity and specificity of 100% and 95.2% respectively. Although Procalcitonin is an inflammatory marker, extent of surgical physiological insult did not alter its biokinetics as opposed to the other inflammatory markers making it a valuable marker of infection. CONCLUSION: Procalcitonin was found to be superior to the other inflammatory markers investigated in this study as a marker for early surgical site infection in patients undergoing spinal surgery.