Comparison between two methods for skin closure in lumbar spinal fusion surgery, a non-inferiority approach between sutures and adhesive strips and its effect on surgical site infections.

Surgical site infections (SSIs) are among the most common complications in spine surgery, the average rate of infection in spine surgery has been estimated to be around 2.1-3.1%, being the lumbar region the most prone to infection with a reported incidence of 3.7-6.9%. Wound management and the choice of materials used for skin closure can influence the rate of wound-related complications.

This work is a retrospective, mono-centric analysis of data collected for surgical site infections (SSIs) surveillance in patients with lumbar spinal fusion surgery, the primary outcome is surgical site infections rate in the cohort and its relation to the wound closure method (Adhesive strips vs sutures). Using a propensity score matching and a non-inferiority analysis the objective was to determined if adhesive strips is not inferior to sutures regarding SSIs.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients undergoing spinal fusion surgery.
• Open posterior approach.
• Surgery involving one or two spinal segments.
• Patients aged 18 years or older.
• Skin closure performed using either sutures or adhesive strips.

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of previous surgical site infections.
• Diagnosis of spondylodiscitis.
• Postoperative complications unrelated to surgical site infections.
• Deep surgical site infections (A3 classification).
• Patients undergoing surgeries other than lumbar spinal fusion.

Patients of both genders, aged 18 years or older, who underwent lumbar spinal fusion surgery involving one or two segments, with skin closure performed using either sutures or adhesive strips.