Experimental study on the prevention of postoperative early infection following spine internal fixation with different irrigation solutions

Objective To evaluate the preventive effects of intraoperative irrigation with different solutions on postoperative early infection after spine internal fixation.Methods Forty-eight rabbits were divided into 4 groups and two[type Kirsehner's wires were implanted into two pedicles and followed by the instillation of 200μl stap-hylococcus aureus suspension of 1×10~8 cfu/ml into the wound.In the control group,the wound was closed after the implantation and instillation.In the saline group,povidone io- dine group and gentamycine saline group 200 ml solution of saline,0.10% povidone iodine and gentamy- cine saline(0.48 g/L)were irrigated respectively for 5 min.Two weeks after operation,the wounds were assessed by observing the local appearance of skin,the character of the effusion and by bacterial culture. Results The incidence of infection in the control group and in the groups irrigated respectively with sa- line solution and 0.1% povidone iodine solution was over 90%.And in the group irrigated with gentamy- cine saline solution,the incidence was 9.2%(P0.01).Conclusion Intraoperative irrigation with gen- tamycine saline solution can significantly reduce the incidence of infection in the situation of wound con- tamination by staphylococcus aureus in the wound of spine internal fixation,but the incidence of infection was also high and sensitive antibiotics were necessary.