The effect of epidural steroid injection during surgery on surgical site infections following lumbar fusion

BACKGROUND: Intraoperative epidural steroid injections (ESIs) have been suggested to limit pain following lumbar fusions. However, the frequency of resultant surgical site infections has not been fully investigated. METHODS: We retrospectively followed two groups of patients; 23 patients were the control group, while the other 23 patients received, in addition to the spinal fusions, intraoperative ESI. RESULTS: Patients in the latter ESI/fusion treatment group had significantly increased rates of superficial and deep infections (i.e., superficial infections 17.4% and 4.3% deep infections) versus control patients (i.e., 8.6% superficial and 0% deep) undergoing fusions alone. CONCLUSION: We observed an increased risk of postoperative surgical site infections among patients who underwent intraoperative ESI in addition to their lumbar fusions.