Various spine surgeons perform wound irrigation using saline mixed with vancomycin, relying on mechanical debridement of non-viable tissue, physical disruption of biofilm, and bacteriostatic effect against gram positive flora. When used as a powder, topical application of vancomycin has demonstrated increased risk of symptomatic seroma formation, which is an adverse outcome that often requires bedside or intra-operative aspiration. Broad-spectrum antiseptic agents, such as Irrisept, offer bacteriocidal properties to eliminate hardware inoculation, thereby minimizing the risk of deep space infection, while obviating the risk of seroma development.
Age: 18+ years old
Indications: deformity, oncologic, degenerative, trauma
Standard layer-by-layer closure
Locoregional flap-based closure
Acute/chronic open wounds (spine or non-spine)
On-going non-spinal infection within 30 days of index operation
Concurrent antibiotic use (for spine or non-spine infections)
History of prior spinal infection