Application of vancomycin powder into the wound during spine surgery: systematic review and meta-analysis

To determine the effects of applying vancomycin powder within the surgical wound on the risk of surgical infections, pseudo-arthrosis and adverse events, in patients undergoing spinal surgery. A meta-analysis was carried out, including controlled studies that evaluated the risk of postoperative infections and/or pseudo-arthrosis in patients undergoing spinal surgery in which vancomycin powder was applied within the surgical wound. were presented as pooled relative risks, with its 95% confidence intervals. Additionally, the frequency of complications attributable to vancomycin was also assessed. A total of six controlled studies (3,379 subjects) were included. Pooled relative risks were: surgical site infection, 0.11 (95%CI: 0.05-0.25; P