Abstract
Object
The aim of this paper is to review the current knowledge on the management of local infections in posterior cranial fossa (PCF) and spinal surgery; the center of our paper will be the diagnosis and management of infections of the wound, the subcutaneous tissue, and muscle strata.
Results and conclusions
Very few papers address the problem of local infections in posterior cranial fossa and spinal surgery. The largest amount of the literature data is indeed centered on how to deal with deep infections, CSF leak, and secondary meningitis or hardware infection. Concerning PCF surgery, a higher rate of local infections has been reported, compared with supratentorial surgery. To prevent such complications, prophylaxis remains the most important tool in dealing with local infections; a careful surgical planning and patient selection are also important. On the other hand, in dealing with local infection in spinal setting, there are several evidences that local vancomycin might help reducing them in adults as well as in children. The treatment protocol consists in antibiotic therapy and, whenever needed, wound revision to remove infectious material or to obtain a microbiological diagnosis. Prognosis has overall to be considered favorable both in the short term as well as in the long term.
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Change history
08 March 2019
Unfortunately in the original publication, the affiliation provided for the author G. Tamburrini was incorrect. The correct affiliation for G. Tamburrini should read as follows: Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCSS, Universit�� Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.
08 March 2019
Unfortunately in the original publication, the affiliation provided for the author G. Tamburrini was incorrect. The correct affiliation for G. Tamburrini should read as follows: Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCSS, Universit�� Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.
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Bianchi, F., Tamburrini, G. Posterior cranial fossa and spinal local infections. Childs Nerv Syst 34, 1889–1892 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-018-3796-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-018-3796-8